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THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

Digitized by tlie Internet Arcliive

in 2007 witli funding from

IVIicrosoft Corporation

littp://www.arcliive.org/details/autlienticliistoryOOwill<iala

AHTJUTK 'TBI^TIL^vy o O D

AN ArrrfiEXTic history

CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY;

WITH THE

TRIALS

AT LARGE
OF THE CONSPIRATORS,

FOR
A DESCRIPTION OF THEIR

WEAPONS AND COMBUSTIBLE MACHINES,

AND

EVHRY PARTICULAR CX)\NECTED WITH THE RISE, PROGRESS,
DISCOVERY, AND TERVIINATION OF THE HORRID PLOT.

With Portraits of all the Conspirators, taken during their Trials, by
Permission, and other Engravings.

By GEORGE THEODORE WILKINSON, Esq.

I'.biioK OF TMi: New Nf.wgate Calcndau Impkovf.u.

LONDON :
PRINTF.D FOR THOMAS KF.LI.Y. 17, PATFRNOSTKn-ROW

And sold b>j all Bookivllpn i)i the Utiifed Kingdom.

*.-.- > • l'

PREFACE.

1 O those, who are accustomed to look witli an
observant eye upon the causes which lead to the
fall and destruction of nations, the present epoch
offers materials for their most weighty considera-
tion, i hey have seen their country involved in
one of the most destructive and arduous contests
ever recorded in its annals ; they have seen the
combined force of the civilized world directed
against its very existence ; they have witnessed its
unexampled and glorious struggle ; the loyalty
and patriotism of the people, and finally they
have behehl it, rising at the close of the contest,
not subdued nor conquered, but towering with
renovated fame and lustre, and scattering to their
loathsome dens the dark demons of anarchy and
ruin ; they beheld the industrious artisan return-
ing to the shuttle — the laborious peasant to the
plough — the war-worn soldier was seated at ids
native hearth telling the story of his battles, and
the weather-beaten sailor, in the fulness of his
j)ride, was glorying in the wounds obtained in the
defence of his country. Peace gave to the nation
its blessings, and round the consecrated altars of
our fithers knelt the children of this favoured
land in grateful prayer to that Ciod, \\ ho had gone

if

IV PREFACE.

forth with them in the day of battle ; and who, in
the wreck of surrounding kingdoms, had vouch-
safed to spread over this his protecting hand.
But, in the midst of these cheering prospects, the
pestilential air of Atheism and Infidelity was
raging abroad like the blasting heat of the Simoon
in the desert, and throwing its sickening hue over
the beautiful forms of Religion and Virtue. Men,
if such an exalted name can be given them, who
have openly thrown oif all submission — all re-
verence— all duty and love to their God ; who, in
the most blasphemous manner, had reviled and
denied their divine Redeemer, considered them-
selves enfranchised from every moral and religious
duty, from allegiance to their earthly Sovereign
and obedience to the laws of the country. In the
latter they beheld an irksome^ and disagreeable
restraint upon the exercise of their degenerate
passions, they tore themselves away from the
great human Society, despised its relations and its
duties, and in their midnight assemblies traitor-
ously plotted the massacre of some of the most
exalted individuals of the country. In themselves
they united the dreadful characters of traitor, in-
cendiary, and murderer. Apostates from their reli-
gion, a spirit of horrible infidelity hardened their
hearts against all the tender feelings of humanity
and virtue, blinded their understandings to the
dictates of truth, and rendered them capable of the
vilest crimes. But the eye of Providence watched
over their victims in the dark recesses where their
hellish plots were engendered ; the Omnipresent

PREFACE. V

Beii)^ marked their actions, and, at the verj mo-
ment of their expected accomplishment, dragged
them forth to the execration and vengeance of
their injured country.

We live in times teeming with events of such
uncommon magnitude, that they seem to laugh to
scorn all that we used to call important in our
former history. Let us not deceive ourselves. It
is no petty danger that threatens us ; we are not
anxious about some dubious point of honour, nor
are we contending for any secondary interest; but
for the very body and substance of our Island :
not for the foliage, nor even the branches, but
for the trunk of the British Oak; that Oak so dif-
ferent in all respects from the Tree of Liberty,
intended to be reared in the Country by certain
pretended Patriots ; that Oak beneath which a
grateful and a happy people had so long sheltered ;
and under which the distressed of other countries
have often found a refuge, when driven to seek
protection from the stormy blasts in their own
less happy land.

Bat to what are the temporal evils which now
afflict the country to be traced ? Undoubtedly to
apostacy in religion, and to the alarming growth
of infidelity and deism. Conspirators never found
an asylum in the habitations of Christians. The
roll of turbulent revolters that History has re-
corded and transmitted to us, as the assertors of
the Rights of Men, exhibits not one disciple of the
meek and lowly Jesus. The true believer in the
doctrines of Christ feels himself, in the view of

VI PUEIACE.

the picture exhibited of the real Christian,
grounded still stronger upon the sure foundation
of his faith upon the solid rock of this heavenly
dispensation. His soul catches new fire from
the host of examples which Christian History re-
cords : he shudders at the attempts which are
made by proud and factious men to withdraw
subjects from their allegiance, to plunge them
into the horrors of anarchy and civil war; he
trembles with astonishment and indignation, when
men rejoice over the mangled remains of Princes
and of statesmen, and over the bloody corpses of
Sovereigns butchered by the hands of their own
rebellious subjects. It is to the progress of irre-
ligion and the decay of morals, that the increase
of crime which now stigmatises the country, is to
be attributed. It is to the fatal neglect of their
religious duties, and to the renunciation of the
blessings which Christianity offers them, that the
miserable men, whose dreadful acts are recorded
in the following pages, have been doomed to
expiate their crimes on the scaffold. Religion
does not leave the interests of mankind within
the contracted circle of his social duties: its
influence is extended in its protection to the
utmost possible degree. The Christian is not
only obliged by his profession to be a good man,
but also to be a good citizen. He must be
obedient to the governing })owers under which
he is born and placed. No siibtilty of reasoning,
nor any perversion of language or texts ol" Scrip-
ture will countenance him in acts of rebellion

ao-ainst his hnvfnl Sovereign. VVIienever, indeed,
the standard ()( rebellion is unfortunately lifted
up against our Prince, it is the duty of the
Christian to be active in his allegiance, and to
defend the Government to which he belongs, with
all possible energy.

It has, however, pleased an Almighty Provi-
dence to protect the Rulers of this Country from
the diabolical machinations of a set of lawless
wretches who sought to erect their own interest
on murder, rapine, and treason. llieir names
are transmittted to posterity, branded with t]\v
most horrible crimes that disfigure human nature ;
their lives are forfeited to the injured Laws of
their Country : and, although they may have
attempted to console themselves with the vain
belief that the punishment for their deeds ends in
this world, the dread reality has now trashed upon
them that there is also another world in which
the hardened and unrepentant sinner will meet
his everlasting doom.

To the Atheist and the Infidel let the blood of
these men speak with the most solemn admo-
nition. The time is fast approaching when the
veil of earthly things will be removed from their
sight; when the cobweb texture of their fancied
theories will be torn asunder ; and truth, w ith its
radiant light, burst upon them. Then let them
pause, ere it be too late : a dreadful example has
been set before them of the effect of irreligion
and immorality. If the Atheist bear the holy
)iame of father, ht him ponder well ere he resign

VIII PREFACE.

his soul to everlasting perdition : let him, as his
babes cling around him, picture to himself the
horrors of that grave on which no morning
breaks ; and the excruciating horrors of that
death-bed which is not blessed with the hope of
a future state. Let him, in his dispassionate
moments, visit the grave of the murderer Thistle-
wood ; let him there reflect upon the end of a
life of infidelity and irreligion ; and then may
that Almighty Being, who looks with a benignant
eye upon the weaknesses of his creatures, guard
him from the error of his ways, and teach him
that real and substantial happiness on earth is
only to be found in Religion, Virtue, and
Morality.

ADDRESS.

Among all the wild, wicked, and visionary
schemes of which we have seen the rise and fall,
in this age of infidelity and disaffection, none
can be compared with that of which we are
about to give the frightful history, for extrava-
gance in its origin, ferocity in its details, or fiend-
like triumph in its anticipated consummation. It
is an event which must for ever bluLwith disgrace
the fair page of British history, and it exhibits an
awful and humiliating view of the state of degra-
dation to which the human mind may be brought,
when once it has cast off the fear of God, as in-
culcated in the divine precepts of Christianity.

The present work professes to be an authentic
and digested history of the rise, progress, disco-
very, and termination of the atrocious Cato- street
Conspiracy; interspersed with so much of the
personal history of the individuals concerned, as
may be necessary to illustrate the principle which

a

ADDRESS.

it is the main object of this work to inculcatet
namely, that to the abandonment of the duties ot
our holy religion alone, is it to be attributed that
we have men among us wicked enough to conceive,
and others so weak as to assist in, such prepos-
terous and atrocious schemes.

The first part contains the history of the plot ;
its detection ; the murder of Smithers, the peace-
officer, in the execution of his duty ; particulars
of the subsequent arrests; 'all the proceedings
before the Police Magistrates, and the Privy Coun-
cil; and a full and accurate description of the
horrid weapons of destruction, and infernal com-
bustible machines, intended to be used by this de-
testable gang of assassins.

The second part contains, at great length, the
Trials of all the executed conspirators, and the
disposal of the other persons arrested, with a
variety of additional particulars relative to the
plot. The accounts of the execution, and deca-
pitation, which are given with great correctness
and fidelity, will be found interesting and affect-
ing, and the Appendix contains sketches of the
lives and conduct of the executed criminals, to
gether with a copious history of the proceedings
relative to that base and infamous individual

ADDRESS. V

George Edwards, the Spy and instigator to
Treason.

The work is confidently submitted to the pub-
lic, in the earnest hope that it may be found so
serious a comment on the intentions and ulti-
mate views of sanguinary and designing men, —
who traverse the country, intruding themselves
into all classes of society, with specious plans of
reform in their mouths, but, in reality, with revolu-
tion, massacre, and plunder in their hearts, — that
every honest man, and every Christian, may be
induced to shun their councils as he would a pes-
tilence, and to adopt for his motto and rule of
conduct the truly- British sentiment of our fore-
fathers,

" FEAR GOD AND HONOUR THE KING."

TO THE BINDER.

Place this quarter sheet, (a) containing Address, ^c. imme-
diately between the Title and the Preface, and insert
the Plates in the following order, viz. ;

Portrait of Thistlewood to face Title-page.

View of tiie Premises in Cato-Strect 10

Portrait of Adams ^ .^^

~ Hvdeu

Monument 16?

Tidd 325

Davidson SS9

Ings 5

Brunt

378

The Execution 385

HISTORY

©ato^^trret eon^ptvac|>.

is:c. cVc

On the morning of Thursday the 24th of
February 1820, the metropolis was thrown into
the greatest consternation and alarm, by the
intelligence, that, in the course of the preceding
evening, a most atrocious plot to overturn the
government of the country, had been discovered,
but which, by the prom])t measures directed by the
privy council, who remained sitting the greatest
part of night, had been happily destroyed by the
arrest and dispersion of the conspirators. Before
day-light the following proclamation was pla-
carded in all the leading places in and about
London : —

LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY,

Thursdai/, Februarj/ 24, 1820.

Whereas Arthui' Tliistlezcood stands charged with liigh
treason, and also with the wilful murder of Richard Sniithers,
a reward of One Thousand Pounds is hereby offered to any
person or persons who shall discover and apprehend, or
cause to be discovered or apprehended, the said Arthur
Thistlewood, to be paid by the lords connnissioncrs of his
majesty's treasury ; upon his being apprehended and lodged
in any of his Majesty's gaols. And all persons are hereby
cautioned upon their allegiance not to receive or harbour
the said Arthur l^histlewood, as any person offending herein
will be thereby guilty of high treason.

SlDMOUTH.

The above-named Arthur I'histlewood is about lorty-
cight years of age, five feet ten inches high, has a sallow
i. B

6 TATO-STUEET CONSPIRACY.

com})lexion, long visage, dark hair, (a little grey), dark haze!
eyes and arched eye-brows, a M-ide mouth and a good set of
teeth, has a scar under his right jaw, is slender made, and has
the appearance of a military man ; was born in Lincolnshire,
and apprenticed to an apothecary at Newark^ usually wears
a blue long coat and blue pantaloons, and has been a lieu-
tenant in the militia.

The particular part of the plan of the traitorous
conspirators, which had been frustrated by their
arrest the previous evening, was the following ;
and its atrocity fully justified the alarming im-
pression which the first rumours had created.

It had been ascertained by the gang, that the
greater part of his majesty's ministers were to
dine together at the Earl of Harrowby's, and tliis
was considered as a favourable opportunity for
effecting their entire extermination : Thistlewood
was to have knocked at Lord Harrowby's door,
with a letter, purporting to be a despatch, or with
a red box, such as is used in all the public offices,
desiring it to be delivered immediately to the
cabinet ministers at dinner, without delay. The
servant, it was supposed, would immediately pro-
ceed with the despatch, while Thistlewood, Avith.
another of the conspirators, entered the hall as if
to wait. They were immediately to open tlie
street-door, others were to come in with hand-
grenades, which were to be thrown into the house;
and, in the confusion produced by them, all the
rest of tlie conspirators were to rush into the
dining-room, where the ministers were at dinner,
and the work of assassination was to have ])een
instantly begun.

The sensations thus exci'Lcd in th_e public
mind, were iiy no means allayed, when, in the
coi-irse of the da^', the details of the horrible
iransuclion began to dcvelope themselves; every
(ine felt a breathless anxict)- to probe to the
boitom tlie secret w^orkings of so detestable a
conspiracy, confidence between man and man
l)ecanie weakened, and that social intercourse

ARREST OF THE CONSEIRATORS. /

which constitutes the pecuhar charm of society
ill this happy country, seemed to be placed at
the mercy of the midnight assassin ; the only
hope left to the upright and the loyal portion of the
community was, that the discovery would rinally
terminate in the beneticial result o-t' purging
society of some of the* foulest members that ap-
parently ever moved in it.

For some time previous to the day on whic'n
the arrests took place, it had been known to his
Majesty's government, that an attempt at the
assassination of his Majesty's ministers was medi-
tating, and that Arthur Thistle wood was at the
bottom of it. On Tuesday, the 22d of February,
certain advice was received, that the attempt was
to be made on Wednesday night, at the Earl of
IlarrowdDy's, in Grosvenor-square. It is sup-
posed that the Earl of llarrowby's was fixed
upon, because, being nearer the <3utlet from
London than the residence of any other of the
cabinet ministers (Lord Westmoreland's excepted,
who lives in tlic scunc square,) escape out of
town, after the attempt had been made, would
have been more easy. Be this as it may, the
conspirators, as soon as they had ascertained
that the cabinet dinner was to be held there, lost
no time in arranging their dreadful and diabolical
project.

The place chosen to arrange finally their ])ro-
ceedings, to collect their force, and to arm them-
selves, was near the Edgcware-road. .John-street
is a short distance on the road, and intersected
by another street, called Cato-street.

Cato- street is rather an obscure street, and
inhabited by persons in an humble class of life ;
it runs from .lohn-street into Queen-street, and is
parallel with Xewnham-street. It is open at one
end for the admission of carriages, but is closed
by f)()sts at the other. 1'he premises occu[)ied
hv Uie conspirators consisted of a three-stall

I- -2

8 CATO-STRKET CONSPIRACY.

stable, with a loft above, in a very dilapidated
condition. They are the property of General
Watson, and have been recently in the possession
of an old servant of his, who had turned cow-
keeper. From this man they had been engaged
by some of the diabolical crew whose machina-
tions have been so happily discovered. The
people in Cato-street were utterly ignorant that
the stable was let until Wednesday, when several
persons were seen to go in and out, and carefully
to lock the door after them. Some of these
individuals carried sacks, and parcels of various
descriptions.

For two or three hours previous to the entrance
of the stable, the police-officers were on the spot,
making their observations, but still no suspicion
was excited of the real object of their attack ;
and so well was the plan of surprise laid, that,
until the discharge of fire-arms was heard, every
thing remained perfectly quiet.

Thus accurately informed of the intentions of
the conspirators, warrants were issued to appre-
hend them while they were assembled. These
warrants were put into the hands of the police-
officers, under the able direction of Richard
Birnie, Esq., the chief magistrate of Bow-street.
A detachment of the Coldstream Guards from
Portman-street barracks, were also ordered to
accompany the police-officers. They proceeded
to the place of meeting in Cato-street, the police-
officers proceeding first. The conspirators had
taken the precaution to place a sentinel below.

The military consisted of the picket-guard of
the 2d Coldstream Regiment, which was stationed
in Portman-street barracks. It consisted of thirty
men, including a sergeant and corporal, and
commanded by Captain Frederick Fitzclarcnce,
who happened to be on duty at the time. They
were called out about a quarter to eight o'clock ;
each man provided with twenty rounds of ball

ARREST OF THE CONSPIRATORS. 9

cartridge. The detachment immediately pro-
ceeded ill the direction of the Edgware-road.
The men were not acquainted with the business
on which they were called out. They supposed
a fire had taken place, and that they had been
sent for to protect the property. On their arrival
within about sixty yards of the house in Cato-
street, John-street, the place of the meeting,
they were halted for a few minutes, during which
they were ordered by Captain Fitzclarence to fix
bayonets and shoulder arms. They were also
enjoined to observe the strictest silence. The
detachment then marched on, but had not pro-
ceeded more than a few yards when they heard
the noise of fire-arms. They were then ordered
to advance in double quick time, and instantly
came in j miction with the civil officers, who had
arrived previously on the ground, and were en-
gaged with the party in the house.

The only approach to this pandemonium was
by a narrow ladder. Ruthven, one of the prin-
cipal Bow- street oincer«, led tlie way, and he
was followed by Ellis, Smithers, Surman, and
others of the patrol. On the door being opened,
about twenty-seven or thirty men were seen
within, all armed in some way or other; and
some of them enga^-ed either in charging fire-
arms, or in girding themselves in belts similar to
those worn by the military, while others were in
close and earnest deliberation. There were
tables about the room, on which lay a number of
cutlasses, bayonets, pistols, sword-belts, pistol-
balls in great quantities, ball-cartridges, S'c.

As the officers entered the room, the conspi-
rators all started up, when Ruthven, who had
been furnished with a warrant Ironx the magis-
trates, exclaimed — " We are ]Hnice-ufficers ! l^ay
down your arms !" In a moment all was con-
fusion. The notorious Arthur Thistlewood, op-
posed himself to the officers, armed with a cut-

10 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

and-tlinist sword of unusual length. Iluthven
attempted to secure the door, and Ellis, who had
followed him into the room, advanced towards
the man, and, presenting his pistol, exclaimed —
•' Drop your sword, or Til fire instantly !" This-
tlewood brandished his sword with increased
violence, when Smithers, the other patrol, rushed
forward to seize him; and on the instant the
ruffian stabbed him to the heart. Poor Smithers
fell into the arms of his brother-officer, Ellis, ex-
claiming— "Oh, God! T am " and in tlie

next instant was a corpse.

Whilst this deed was doing, the lights were
extinguished, and a desperate struggle ensued,
in which many of the officers were severely
wounded. Surman, one of the patrol, received
a musket-ball on the temple, but fortunately it
only glanced along the side of his head, tearing
up the scalp in its way. The conspirators kept
up an incessant fire ; whilst it was evident to the
officers that many of them were escaping by some
back way. Mr. Birnie exposed Kim self every
where, and encouraged the officers to do their duty,
whilst the balls were whizzing round his head.
At this moment Captain Fitzclarence (a young
officer well known for his gallantry and gentle-
manly conduct) arrived at the head of the detach-
ment of the Coldstream Guards. They sur-
rounded the building, and Captain Fitzclarence,
with Sergeant Legge and three files of grenadiers
entered the sta'>le, where the first object that
presented itself to their sight, was one of the
party running out of the stable, apparently with
intention to make his escape. He was seized by
one of the soldiers, when the ruffian instantly ap-
proached the gallant captain, and presented a
pistol at his breast ; but, as he was in the act of
pulling the trigger. Sergeant Legge rushed for-
ward, and, whilst attempting to put aside the
destructive weapoi), received the fire upon lii^^

'^^/v'^>-

ARREST OF THE CONSPIRATORS. 1 1

arm. rortuiiately for this brave nian, the ball
glanced along his arm, tearing" the sleeve of his
jacket, from the wrist to the elbow, and only
slightly woimding him.

A black man was the next that was started from
his place of concealment ; he was armed with a cut-
lass. He also aimed a blow at captain Filzclarence,
but was seized and secured by one of the soldiers,
James Basey, without any injury to the latter
but a slight cut on the finger. Then addressing
himself to his friends in the house, he exclaimed,
" Fight on while you have a drop of blood in
you — you may as well die now as at another
time/'

The detachment was then ordered to rush
forward which they did, headed by their captain,
who darted into a stall, and seized by the
collar a fellow who was standing in it, and who
grappled with him with one hand, while he
attempted to tire a pistol at him with the other,
which did not go off, the powder flashing in the
pan. The miscreant still holding hrmly by the
coat, the captain called out to his men to disen-
gage him. Two of them, James Revel and James
Basey, immediately seized him, and he surren-
dered himself, saying, " Do not kill me, and I '11
tell you all."' This scene took place in the stable
on the ground-floor. It was a three-stalled
stable, with a hay-loft over it, with which it com-
municated by a ladder placed at one end. The
detachment led by Captain Fitzclarence then
mounted the ladder and into the loft, now filled
with smoke, and only illuminated by the occa-
sional Hashes of t'le fire-arms of the conspirators.

In the confusion naturally occasioned by the
contest, Thistlcwood contrived to make his es-
cape, almost unobserved, and the constables had
by this time retired for the purpose of surrounding
the house, a. id intercepting the flight of any

12 CATO-STUEET CONSPIRACY.

others of the gang". On entering the loft, the mi-
litary came in contact with the dead body of the
murdered Smithers, (the constable), and a ruffian
lying at his side all covered with the blood of the
dead man. The fellow rose, and did not appear
to have sustained any hurt or injury. Addressing
himself to the soldiers, he said, " I hope they will
make a difference between the innocent and the
guilty." Three others were next taken together ;
they were huddled in a corner among some
shavings. One of them jumping out said, '* I
resign myself ; there is no harm; I was brought
in here innocent this afternoon."

These four were all of them found by the sol-
diers in the room, making, with the man taken
below in the stall, and the two outside, seven
prisoners. The constables had previously taken
two, one of whom made his escape down the
street, but was pursued and re- taken. The
moment he was caught he fired a pistol, which he
had concealed on his person : it went off, but did
no injury.

Muddock, one of the soldiers, when he entered
the loft, in the midst of darkness, ran against some-
thing which he at the moment conceived to be a
part of the building. He was, however, soon un-
deceived, by a wretch snapping a pistol at him,
which happily missed fire. Failing in this de-
testable purpose, the miscreant threw himself on
the ground, exclaiming, " Use me honourably ^'
and the gallant soldier contented himself with
making him prisoner. When this was mentioned
to Captain Fitzclarence, he asked Muddock why
he had not stuck his opponent ; the reply of the
brave fellow was, " Why, your honour, I had
him by the heels, and I took his pistol from him,
and I wanted no more." The pistol v>as loaded
nearly to the muzzle.

It is impossible to give a miiiute detail of the

ARREST OF THF. ( ONSPIR ATOR^. 1.3

desperate conflict which took place, or the nume-
rous instances of personal daring manifested by the
j^eacc-ofHcers and the military, thus brought into
sudden contact with a band of assassins in their
obscure den, and in utter darkness. Unfortunately,
this darkness favoured the escape of many of the
wretches, and the dreadful skirmish ended in tlie
capture of only nine of them. The military, on
searching the loft, found a great quantity of
])istols, blunderbusses, swords, and pikes, about
sixteen inches long, made to screw into a handle.
They also found a great many common files,
sharpened to a point at the ends, and made to be
used as pikes : they also found a large quantity of
ammunition, consisting of ball-cartridges, powder-
flasks, slugs wrapt up in paper, and a sack full of
hand-grenades. The military, accompanied by
the constables, then withdrew, and proceeded to
Bow-street-office with their prisoners.

The soldiers were laden with the arms and
ammunition which they found in the stable ; and
having delivered their prisoners and booty, four
of them were examined briefly by the Magis-
trates, viz., James Revel, James Basey, William
Curtis, and John Muddock. They identified the
prisoners who were then standing at the bar, as
the persons whom they had taken in the stable.
The fire-arms and ammunition were then show^n
to them, which they also identified. Captain
Fitzclarence, with his detachment, then marched
back to Portman-barracks, to which also they
conveyed the arms and annnunition taken, and
deposited them in the Captain's room.

Shortly after the arrival of the cavalcade at the
police-ottice, in Bow-street, Mr. Birnic, the Ma-
gistrate, arrived, and having taken his seat at the
bench, the prisoners were placed at the bar in the
following order: —

James Ings, a butcher,
James Wilson, a tailor,
1. c

i4 CATO-STREKT eo>fSPIRACr.

Richard Bradburn, a carpenter,
James Gilchrist, a shoemaker,
Charles Cooper, a bootmaker,
Richard Tidd, a bootmaker,
John Monument, a shoemaker,
John Shaw, a carpenter, and
William Davidson, a cabinet-maker.

Davidson is a man of colour, and a worthy co-
adjutor of Messrs. Watson, Thistlewood, and Co.,
upon many occasions. At the meeting in Fins-
bury market-place, a few months ago, this fel-
low was one of the principal speakers, and ad-
vised the persons assembled to go armed to all
public meetings ; and was also the bearer of the
black flag, with a death's head, in the mob which
attempted to excite a tumult in Covent-garden,
during the election. When Ellis, the officer, was
putting the handcuffs on him, he amused himself
by vociferating passages from the popular air of
" Scots wha ha'e wi' Wallace bled," and fre-
quently exclaiming, ** B — st and d — n the eyes
of all those who would not die for liberty."

Ings is a fierce ruffian, a short stout man, ap-
parently between 30 and 40, but of most deter-
mined aspect. His hands were covered with
blood ; and as he stood at the bar, manacled to
one of his wretched confederates, his large fiery
eyes glared round upon the spectators with an
expression truly horrible. The rest had nothing
extraordinary in their appearance. They were
for the most part men of short stature, mean ex-
terior, and unmarked physiognomy.

The office was crowded with soldiers and
officers, bringing in arms and ammunition of
various kinds, which had been taken on the
premises; muskets, carabines, broad-swords, pis-
tols, blunderbusses, belts, and cartouch- boxes,
ball cartridges, gunpowder, (found loose in the
pockets of the prisoners), haversacks, and a
large bundk of singularly-constructed stilettoes.

ARREST 01 THE CO N« PI R ATOK$. 15

These latter were about 18 inches long, and tri-
angular in form : two of the sides being concave,
and the other flat; the lower extremity having
been flattened, and then wrung round spirally,
so as to make a firm grip, and ending in a screw,
as if to fit into the top of a stafl^. Several stavet
indeed were produced, fitted at one end with a
screwed socket; and no doubt they were in-
tended 10 receive this formidable weapon.

The depositions of a number of otHcers, most
of them wounded, and several of the soldiers,
leaving been taken, their evidence substantiating
the foregoing narrative, the prisoners were asked
whether they wished to say any thing? Cooper,
and Davidson the black, were the only ones who
replied, and they merely appealed to the officers
and soldiers to say, whether they had not in-
stantly surrendered themselves. Ellis, the patrol,
who received the murdered body of his comrade
Smithers in his arms, replied, that Davidson had
made the most resistance. At the moment when
the lights were extinguished, he had rushed out of
the place, armed with a carbine, and wearing-
white cross-belts. Ellis pursued him a consi-
derable distance along John-street; and, having
caught him, they fell together, and in the deadly
struggle which ensued, Davidson discharged his
carbme, but without effect, and Ellis succeeded
in securing him.

Captain Fitzclarencc had seized and secured
one or two of the prisoners with his own hands,
and he was not only much bruised, but his uni-
form was almost torn to pieces.

We will here shortly digress, for tlic purj-)ose
of stating the immediate circumstances which
led to the frustration of the sanguinary plot,
and the arrest of its fiend-like authors.

It had been for some time well known to go-
vernment, that Thisilewood, forgetful of his nar-

10 CATO-STREET COXSPIIIACY

row escape on the former occasion of an indict-
ment for High Treason*, and, as it were, un-
conscious of the blessings of that constitution,
which in the equal and upright administration of
justice to all, gives to the accused party the ad-
vantage of the conscientious doubts of the jury,
and which beneficent feature in the trial by a
British Jury had alone saved him from condign
punishment, had never ceased to pursue his dis-
loyal and traitorous designs, but had still continued
in darkness and obscurity, to hatch new plots, as
preposterous as diabolical, and to entrap new
agents, as weak as they were wicked, and as
certain of being ultimately involved in the same
sacrifice to public justice, as he himself seemed
devoted to by a besotted perseverance in his hor-
rid principles.

Conscious, however, as were the ministers that
some dreadful scheme was perfecting, and that a
tremendous blow was about to be struck, they
were ignorant of the time or nature of the intended
movement, until the very day destined for its
consummation, when a communication was made
to the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment, by Lord Harrowby, who stated that he
had that morning been stopped by a man, when
riding in St James's-pavk, who delivered to him
a letter, the contents of which were, that a gang
of assassins were to assassinate his Lordship and
the rest of the cabinet ministers, w^hen assembled
at liis house on the evening of that day at a ca-
l)inet dinner. IJis Lordship, although he did not
know the man, listened to his representation, in
addition to the contents of the letter, and alter-
wards consulted his brother ministers uj)on the
subject ; and they immediately determined to
postpone the cabinet dinner.

'Ihv discovery, indeed, of the infamous wretches

• Sr;c N.,'\vj;;il.' C*;il':n(Un ,, \'ol. 1\'.

ARREST OF THIS CONSPIRATORS. 17

and their intended diabolical act is next to a mi-
racle, and is only to be attributed to the deter-
mination and perseverance of the man who made
the communication to the earl of Harrowby : he
called at his lordship's house, in Grosvenor-
square, on Wednesday morning, (the 23d), be-
tween eleven and twelve o'clock, and inquired of
the porter if the noble earl was at home ? The
porter replied in the negative. The man ap-
peared very anxious to see his lordship, but the
porter did not give him any hopes, as he refused
to tell his business ; the man, however, urged the
necessity of seeing his lordship, without loss of
time ; and at length he observed, that if he did
not see him, the porter would not be sitting in
his chair in the hall to-morrow. This observation
astonished the porter, and induced him to believe
that the man really had something of a serious
and alarming nature to communicate to the noble
earl : he then told him that his lordship was riding
on horseback in the park, directed him to that
part in which he was most likely to find him, and
described his groom and the livery he wore, ^-c.
The man hastened to the Park, and discovered
the groom, as described by the porter, hailed him,
and asked him if the gentleman before was the
earl of Harrowby ? The groom replied in the
affirmative. The man then told him, that he
wanted and must speak with his lordship. The
groom informed his noble master, who immedi-
ately stopped his horse. The man then pre-
sented a letter to him, which the earl opened and
read. The man having informed him that he had
a deal more to communicate, his lordship dis-
mounted, and walked and talked with the man
tor some time ; and the residt uf their interview
was the coninuinieation to the secretary of state,
ot" which we have just spoken.

Precautions wen- inunediately taken at the se-
eretai'v of sla.tes (iHice, for tlic diseo\ery and \\y-

18 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

prehension of the villains. The first intimation
that was given of the affair at the office in Bow-
street was at past seven o'clock, when it was made
known that a number of officers, constables, and
patrol, would be wanted. Ellis, who is a con-
ductor of a party of patrol, was ordered to leave
his division, and repair to the office with the men
under his direction. The expedition upon which
they were to be sent was kept a secret till they
started, which was between half-past eight o'clock
and nine. The place of rendezvous of the assas-
sins was in Cato-street, John-street, in the Edg-
ware-road, where the neighbours had become
alarmed by a number of strange men assembling
in a stable, and a loft over it, after dark ; sacks
being hung up on the inside of the windows to
prevent detection.

In the course of the day inquiries had been
made, and the result was, that some desperate
act was expected to take place. The ministers'
servants were armed with pistols, and two officers
or constables appointed to each residence. The
Earl of Harrowby and Viscount Castlereagh dined
with the Earl of Liverpool ; and at nine o'clock
they went to the secretary of state's office for the
home department, at which time all the cabinet
ministers asserabl-ed. Mr. Birnie, the magistrate,
was directed by Viscount Sidmouth to be in Cato-
street, and in readiness to act in case of emer-
gency. A party of the guards, under the com-
mand of Captain Fitzclarence, was ordered to
march to Cato-street, to assist the police, if
necessary. Unfortunately, however, they were
not clearly directed, or they did not understand
where the place was, as they were at the con-
trary end of the street when the assassins com-
menced their murderous attack upon the officers,
and it was only by the discharge of pistols that
they found out where the building was. When
the police-oHicers arrived, they found two sr^cn-

AIlHESr OF THE COXSP I R ATOnfi. 19

tinels at the door, armed with {^iins and swords.
These opposed their admittance without the
pass-word. The officers, however, soon over-
powered and secured them. They then gave an
alarm, and the ofricers heard by the noise in the
loft that several persons were up stairs. They as-
cended to the loft by a ladder which the con-
spirators themselves had used ; when the contest,
which we have already described, ending in the
arrest of most of the conspirators, took place.

The same sources of information which led to
the detection of the conspiracy enabled the ma-
gistiites to trace the hiding-place of Thistlewood.
Instead of returning to his own lodgings in Stan-
hope-street, Clare-market, it was discovered that
he had proceeded to an obscure house, No. 8,
White-street, Little Moorfields. Thither, at nine
o'clock on Thursday morning, the 24th of Fe-
bruary, Lavender, Bishop, lluthven, Salmon, and
six of the patrol, were despatched. On arriving
at the house, three of the latter were placed at
the front, and three at the back door, to prevent
escape. Bishop observed a room on the ground-
floor, the door of which he tried to open, but
found it locked. He called to a woman in the
opposite apartment, whose name is Harris, to
fetcli him the key. She hesitated, but at last
brought it. He then opened the door softly.
The light was partially excluded, from the shut-
ters being shut; but he perceived a bed in the
corner, and advanced. At that instant a head
was gently raised from under the blankets, and
the countenance of Thistlewood was presented
to his view. Bishop drew a pistol, and pre-
senting it at him, exclaimed, " Air. Thistlewood,
I am a Bow-street officer ; you are my prisoner :"
and then, *' to make assurance doubly sure," he
threw himself upon him. Thistlewood said, he
would make no resistance. Lavender, lluthven.

20 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

and Salmon, were then called, and the prisoner
was permitted to rise. He had his breeches and
stockings on, and seemed much agitated. On
being dressed, he was handcuffed ; in his pockets
were found some ball-cartridges and flints, the
black girdle, or belt, which he was seen to wear
in Cato-street, and a sort of military silk sash.

A hackney-coach was then sent for, and he
was conveyed to Bow-street. In his way thither
he was asked by Bishop, what he meant to do
with the ball-cartridges; he declined answering
any questions. He was followed by a crowd of
persons, who repeatedly cried out, " Hang the
villain ! hang the assassin !" and used other ex-
clamations of a similar nature.

When he arrived at Bow-street, he was first
taken into the public office, but subsequently
into a private room, where he was heard, un-
guardedly, to say, that *' he knew he had killed
one man, and he only hoped it was Stafford;
meaning Mr. Stafford, the chief clerk of the
office, to whose unremitting exertions in the de-
tection of public delinquents too much praise
cannot be given.

Mr. Biniie, having taken a short examination
of the prisoner, sent him to Whitehall to be ex-
amined by the Privy-Council. Here the crowd
was as great as that which had been collected in
Bow-street. Persons of the highest rank came
pouring into the Home Office, to learn the parti-
culars of what had transpired.

The arrest of Thistlewood was heard with infi-
nite satisfaction ; he was placed in a room on the
ground-floor, and a vast number of persons were
admitted in their turn to see him. His appear-
ance was most forbidding. His countenance, at
all times unfavourable, seemed now to have ac-
quired an additional degree of malignity. His
dark eye turned upon the spectators as they came
in, u^ if he expected to see some of his compa-

ARREST OP THE CONSPIRATORS. 21

nions in guilt, who he had lieard were to be
brought thither. He drank some j^orter that was
handed to him, and occasionally asked questions,
principally as to the names of the pers(jns who
came to look at him. Then he asked " to what
gaol lie should be sent ? — he hoped not to Hor-
isham." (This was the place in which he was
confined, in consequence of his conviction for
sending a challenge to Lord Sidmouth.)

At two o'clock he Avas conducted before the
Privy-Council. He was still handcuiicd, but
mounted the stairs with alacrity. On enteriiig
the council- chamber he was placed at the foot of
the table. He was then addressed by the Lord
Chancellor, who informed him that he stood
charged with the twofold crime of treason and
murder; and asked him whether he had anything to
say for himself? He answered, that " he should
decline saying any thing on that occasion."'

No persons were suffered to have access ex-
cept those on business to the public offices at
Whitehall, nor was any individual allowed to hold
communication with the prisoner. About a
dozen soldiers were in the hall and adjoining
lodge ; they formed a part of the military escort
that accompanied the police-officers to the spot
where Thistlewood and his companions were
first discovered. The soldiers had v.ith them
the different articles and weapons found uj)on
the party when taken, among which were two
small pistols, one of them loaded, and a bundle
of files, similar to those used in small brass-
work. The points of su(51i files are always sharp,
and the part of the file which goes into the
liandle is necessarily pointed, to ])cnetrate the
hole made in the wood for its reception ; some of
the files appeared, however, to have had the
handle-points brightened, and the ends made
more fine, as if by being whetted uj)on a stone.
There were also in the hall two or three bags,

1 D

22 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

containing tln'ce bpiyoncts and some ammunition,
made up in both small and large cartridges. The
soldiers who had seized those articles were exa-
mined before the Privy-Council. After his exa-
mination, Thistlewood was taken back to the
room in which he had been previously placed ;
his commitment to Coldbath-lields was made out,
and he was conveyed to that ]irison under the
care of six officers. There was a partial shouting
and groaning, as the carriage in which he was
placed drove otf.

The appearance of Thistlewood at this time
was wretched in the extreme. When in custody
with Watson, Preston, and Hooper, on the charge
for high treason, he was a stout, active, cheerful-
looking man, with something of a fearless and
determined cast of features. His deportment at
that time w^as I'ree and unembarassed, with nnich
of the air of a sea-faring man. Within the six
months previous to the present arrest, his ap-
pearance had, in every respect, undergone a total
change ; lie had been seen constantly in the streets,
dressed in a shabby manner ; his countenance
sc^ualid and emaciated, and his whole dress and
the expression of hi.s features, denoting a man who
was reduced to a state of extreme indigence.
He was generally observed walking or running
through the streets v/ith eager impetuosity, and
his shoes and an old surtout coat, which he gene-
rally wore, bearing all the marks of the poverty
and distressed circumstances of the wearer.

When before the Privy-Council, his dress was an
old black coat and waistcoat, which were thread-
bare, corduroy breeches very much worn, and
old worsted stockings. His general appearance
indicated great distress ; his limbs were slender,
and his countenance squalid and somewhat de-
jected. There was nothing of agitation in his
manner. He sat with his eyes chiefly fixed on
the ground, except when he occasionally raised

ARREST OF THE CONM'IR ATOKS. 23

llicm to survey Members of the Privy-Council,
as they passed through the hail on their \vay to
the Couneii-room.

The followiny- Privy-Couueillors were present
at his examination: — The Duke ol" Welliniiton,
the ]:larls ot" Ilarrowbv, Liverpool, and W'est-
moreland, Lords Sidmouth, C'a>tlereagli, and
INIelville, tlie Chancellor of the ]:^xche(picr, Mr.
Canning-, Mr. Welleslcy Pole, Sir William Seott,
the Chief Baron of Scotland, the ex- Attorney-ge-
neral, (Sir S, Shepherd), Mr. Bragge Bathurst,
and other members of the cabinet.

It is im})ossible to describe the anxiety and
horror which prevaded the countenances of thou-
sands of persons who went to view the scene of
action the day after the arrest. Through the
whole of the day, and till very late in the even-
ing, several persons of the highest consideration
in the country visited the place. A man no
way authorized, took possession of the place, and
imposed on the public by demanding a shilling
from each ])erson for admission.

The alarm in the neighbourhood, on hearing
the report of fire-anns, and the noise of contest
on premises which they considered untenanted,
may be more easily conceived than described. It
was heightened by every circumstance of terror
that the imagination could form to itself. The
house was surrounded with soldiers and police-
orncers — Hj^hting was heard within — olHcers were
obscurely seen scaling a ladder and entering the
scene of battle, while their fate and the cause of
the combat were entirely unknown. Some of the
jKM'sons belonging to the j)ublic-house adjoining,
after running to the s])ot, fled in dismay when
they heard the balls whistling aliout their ears.

Several of the inhal)itants of Cato-street had
oi)served, since the preceding Monday, straniie-
hjoking men coming about the empty premises.
On the morning of Wednesday, (the day of the

24 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

arrest) they saw Davidson, the man of colour,
and three others, watchmg at different ends of
the street, while some of their associates were
heard nailing up the windows within the loft.
Before dusk Davidson again made his appear-
ance, with a sack on his back, which the neigh-
bours at the time supposed to contain carpenters'
tools for repairing or new-modelling the interior
of the building, but which had in fact conveyed
the arms with v/hich they were to equip them-
selves for their daring enterprise. iVfter the
arsenal was formed, the band arrived ; and the
people in the public-house were surprised, if not
alarmed, to see upwards of twenty persons, en-
tire strangers to the place, hovering about their
premises, and at last entering the den. Still they
had no suspicion of what was going forward, and
no presentiment of what was in a short time to occur.
The police soon arrived, and the murderous strug-
gle took place which we have already described.
The body of Smithers, who was murdered,
was removed to the Horse and Groom public-
house, opposite. He must have died instantly,
and without convulsion. He received only one
wound, about an inch below his right breast,
and about an inch in width. His body was
exposed in a room on the first floor of the
public-house, above-mentioned, in the dress in
which he was killed. His breast and neck were
covered with blood, but his countenance was as
placid, and his features as composed, as if their
expression had been arrested, and life extin-
guished, during a tranquil sleep. On his death
being mentioned to Lord Sidmouth, his Lordship
expressed great regret at the event, and sym-
pathy for his surviving widow ; saying, with great
humanity, that, as he could not, restore to her
her husband, he would take care that she should
not want his assistance in a pecuniary point of
view. The unfortunate man's sister, from Putney,

ARREST OF THE CONSPIRATORS. 25

was one of the first to view the dead body of her
brother, and deeply affected the spectators with
the poiLi;nancy of her sorrow.

The sword with which the murder of Smithers
was perpetrated is of foreign manufacture, and
nearly a foot longer than those which we are ordi-
narily in the habit of seeins:.

A lady, of the name of Northmore, who lives in
a street immediately adjoining- that in which the
conspirators assembled, found a sabre in her yard,
which had been thrown away by one of the gang,
in his flight. This also is a weapon of foreign ma-
nufacture, and, from its appearance, had evidently
been ground within a day or two. It was per-
fectly sharp on both sides, and, in addition to its
brass hilt, there was attached to it a handkerchief,
so disposed as to afford a sort of guard for the
arm. Mrs. jVorthmore, on finding the weapon,
sent for a friend, who advised her to transmit it to
Bow-street. This was accordingly done ; and,
extraordinary to relate, it was recognised by an
active member of that establishment as exactly
representing one of two sabres, of which a de-
scription had been given at the office, and which
were known to have been lately taken to a cutler,
for the purpose of grinding.

The hand-grenades found in the loft, and pro-
duced in the examination, are about the size of a
large orange, made of cast-iron, filled with com-
bustibles ; they have a round hole, in which is
placed a fuse, which, on being set fire to, is
thrown by the hand, and when it falls it explodes :
the splinters caused by the explosion spread in
all directions, and one of them has been known to
kill ten or twelve persons. It was intended to
explode these horrible instruments at the Earl of
llarrowbys house.

After the connnittal of Thistlewood by the Privy-
Councd, the whole of the prisoners underwent an
examination, likewise by the Privy-Council; and on

2G CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

their being re-committed, one of them proposed to
become king's evidence, which offer was accepted.

During the attendance of Mr. Birnie upon
the Privy- Council on Thistle wood's examination,
the officers arrived at Bow-street, with all the
persons found in the house where Thistiewood
had been apprehended, and Mr. J. E. Coxaxt,
the magistrate, proceeded with their examination ;
they consisted of the landlady of the house,
Mrs, Hill, a lodger, and Lewis Casper, a man
who did not lodge in it.

Elizabeth Harris, the landlady, stated, that her
husband worked at the letter-foundry of Messrs.
Caslon and Catherwood, in Chi swell-street, Moor-
fields. On Wednesday, the 23d of February, she
had a bill in her window to let her lodgings,
when in the morning, between ten and eleven
o'clock, Thistiewood came into her house, and
inquired about the lodging : she told him it was
only half a bed with her nephew. Thistiewood
agreed for the half bed, for which he was to pay two
shillings and sixpence a week, and was to take
possession of it that night. She at first said, that
she had a slight knowledge of Thistiewood, but
denied it afterwards. It was supposed she was
concealing him, as he was locked up in the room.
This she explained, by saying the door flew open,
and she could not keep it shut without locking it.
She said Thistiewood arrived at her house be-
tween ten and eleven o'clock on Wednesday
night: he observed that he was late; she replied
he was late, and she had almost given him up.
He then went to bed. Her street-door standing
open only by a latch, the officers had entered and
searched the upper part before she knew they
were there, when tlicy asked her to unlock the
door where Thistiewood was in bed, which she
instantly did. She did not know Lewis Casper
had been in her house till she found him in the
cxrdvh with her when they were brought away.

ARREST CP THE CONSPIRATORS. 27

Lewis Casper stated himself to be a watch-
finisher, residing' in Union-street, Bishopsgate,
and accounted for his being- in the house by say-
ing he was with I\Irs. Hill, the lodger, who
washed for him, and he appointed his little boy
to call lor a key there.

This man was detained till it was ascertained
if he was tlie man he represented himself to be.
Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Hill were discharged for
the present.

In the course of Thursday, the 24th of Fe-
bruary, the following persons were arrested as
concerned in the conspiracy : —

Brunt, who was to have been second in com-
mand to Thistlewood. He was a shoemaker ; an
excellent workman, and earned between forty and
fifty shillings a week. He was taken in bed.
He had previously provided himself with a sword
and a brace of pistols, in case of need, but he did
not make use of them on this occasion. He was
apprehended at his lodgings in Fox-court, Gray's-
inn-lane; in his room a vast quantity of hand-
grenades, and other combustibles, were found.
'JMiese were charged with powder, pieces of old
iron, and other materials, calculated upon ex-
plosion to produce" the most horrible conse-
quences. A great number of pike-blades, or
stilettoes, such as were discovered in Cato-street,
and a number of iire-arms, were likewise found.
The whole of these were taken to Bow- street.
He was afterwards sent to Whitehall, ;ind llicn
committed to Coldbath-fields.

I'lUTu, the person by wliom the stable was let
so Harris. He admitted that he has attended
some of the Radical meetings, but dciiicd any
knov/ledge of the conspiracy.

Coopj-u, a shoemaker, living in (Javdcn-couil,
Baldwin"s-gardcns: he was ap[)rehendcd in llie
middle of the day.

Simmons, a Ibotman, living with a respectable

28 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

family in Seymour-street. He underwent an ex-
amination before the secretary of state for the
home department, and another before the ma-
gistrates at Bow-street, was ultimately committed
to Tothill-fields* prison.

Tadd, a shoemaker, of whom the following ac-
count was given at the period of his arrest. He
is a man of the age of 49, and lived with his wife
and family in a small and miserable dwelling
situated in the Hole-in-the-Wall-passage, leading
from Baldwin's-gardens to Torrington-street. His
family consists of one daughter, and two orphan
children, whom he had taken under his care.
Tadd has been esteemed among his neighbours, and
by those who have employed him in his trade, as an
industrious sober man, and an excellent workman.
He has earned by his own hands forty shillings
a week, and very often even a greater sum.
During the whole course of his life, he was never
known to neglect his work, or become inebriated ;
but within the last week he had been in a drunken
state, and his family had been at a loss to ac-
count for the extraordinary change in his conduct.
On Wednesday night, three men came to Tadd
while in such a state of drunkenness as scarcely
to be able to keep his legs, and forced him away,
notwithstanding the earnest entreaties and remon-
stances of* his wife and family. Nothing was
said by the men who took him away, as to their
object, either to the wife or any one in the house ;
and during the whole night, and the greater part
of the next day, they were in total ignorance of
the circumstances since disclosed, and were at a
loss to account for the absence of Tadd. In the
morning (Thursday), between seven and eight
o'clock, two men came to the house, laden with a
box of a considerable size, and, putting it down
on tlie lioor, said, " they would call in a few
minutes for it." The men refused to answer the
interrogatories put to them as to their object in

AUUKST OF THE CUNtjiMKATOi;?;, 21)

leaving- the box, and only repeated, that, they
would call ill a short time, and take it away:
V'^ery soon afterwards, two more men came with
a large bundle of sticks, some of them of the
thickness of a man's wrist. These were left in a
similar manner, and the men also refused to an-
swer any questions, saying only, that they would
call again for them in a few minutes. Ten minutes
had not elapsed before two police-officers en-
tered the house, and seized the box and sticks.
When opened, the box was discovered to con-
tain a great number of pike-heads, sharpened
ready for use. The sticks were also seized,
and carried away by the oificers. It would ap-
])ear, from this statement, that Tadd w^as taken
by the three men whom we have described to the
stable in Cato-strcet, where he was subsecjuently
apprehended, and carried to Bow-street, together
with several others.

IloBKiiT Adams, living in a miserable hovel in
Brooks'-market, llolborn, and working as a shoe-
maker. He some time since was a privette in
the Royal Horse-guards, in which regiment he
served for five years. He very much resembles
Thistlevv^ood in his person, but has a cast m his
leJt eye.

In addition to these arrests, several warrants
were issued, among which was one against a
native of France.

The lodgings of Thisllewood, and of all the others
who were taken into custody, were searched, and
several important papers, and quantities of arms,
were discovered and seized. Among those found
m Thistlewood's apartment was a copy of the
bill furnished to Dr. Watson by Mr. Ottley,
owner of the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the
Strand, for the expenses of the dinner given to
Hunt, on his return from Manchester, Judging
from his former connexions, it may be considered
as fortunate ibr llic Doctor that he was not able
to li(rui<kifr tiiis d 'IjI. being n.t the time of tlie

30 CATO-STREKT CONSPIRACY.

arrests an inmate of Whitecross- street prison on
account of this bill, and thus saved from the
temptation of joining his former associates.

It is a singular fact, that when Thistlewood
was arrested, he had not a farthing of money in
his possession. The same observation may be
made with respect to his comrades, all of whom
were in the most wretched state of poverty.

We will here suspend for a time the particulars
of the proceedings against the Conspirators, for
the purpose of recording the proceedings of the
Coroner's Inquest on the body of Richard
Smithers, the unfortunate Bow-street officer,
who was murdered, as before stated, when in the
the execution of his duty, in Cato- street. The
inquest was held on Friday the 25th February, at
the Horse and Groom public-house, John-street,
Edgeware-road. which is situated but a few
yards from the spot where the atrocious deed
was perpetrated. In the course of the day great
numbers of persons visited the miserable building
which the Conspirators had selected as the scene
of their deliberations, and one universal feeling
of horror and detestation against Thistlewood
and his infamous associates appeared to actuate
the multitude.

The Coroner for the county of Middlesex,
Thomas Stirling, Esq., having arrived, and
proclamation having been made by the beadle
of the parish of St. Mary-le-bone, that the Jury
summoned should proceed to inquire ** when,
how, and by what means, Richard Smithers came
by his death," the Jury were sworn.

The foreman of the jury observed to the
coroner, that he and his fellow-jurors wished to
inspect the body in the presence of the surgeon,
in order that he might be ready to answer any
question that might arise on the moment. This
suggestion was complied with ; and on the return
of the jury from viewing the body.

INQUEST ON SMITHF.RS. 31

]\lr. Fisher, the surgeon, was sworn, and de
posed as iollows : — I am surgeon to the Police
estai)hshment in Bow-street. I was called upon
for the first time, this day, to examine the body
of the deceased. I found an external wound
under the right breast. It was two inches in
lengtli, and half an inch broad. I opened the body
to ascertain the depth and direction of the wound,
and I discovered that some sharp mstrument
had penetrated between the fifth and sixth ribs,
wounded the outward surface of the right lobe
of the liver, passed through the diaphragm into
the chest, lacerated the pericardium, penetrated
tlie right ventricle of the heart, wounded the left
lobe of the lungs, and struck against the ribs
on the left side. The wound I supposed to be
about twelve inches in length. The blood flowed
from the heart, and occasioned immediate death.
The opening in the pericardium was larger than
that ])resented by the external wound, which
was always the case with wounds of this descrip-
tion. The weapon was prevented from passing
entirely through the body by the ri'bs on the left
side. It must have been a very sharp instru-
ment, both pointed and cutting, to make such a
wound. The membranes, which w^ere cut asun-
der, could only have been severed by an exceed-
/ngly sharp instrument. That death was inevita-
ble after such a wound, the heart having iK'cn
cut open, and the blood eft'used into the cavity
of the chest.

Geohgp: Thomas Hlthvex being sworn, said,
I am an officer belonging to the j)ublic-ottice in
Bow-street. On Wednesday eveniiig last, at half-
})ast eight u'chjck, I was in this liouse. I received
an order iVom ?\ir. Birnie, who is a Justice of the
Peace for llie county of Middlesex, to go to a
shed or stable in Cato-street, in consequence of a
number of men being assembled there for treason-
able })urposes. There was a warrant issucxl by
9. E 2

32 r A TO- STREET C6\S PIRACY.

Mr. Baker, a magistrate of Marlborough-street. On
entering the house, I observed in the lower place
a man with a cntlass at his side, and a musket
on his shoulder. The door by which I entered
from the street was not fast ; there were persons
going in and out; the man with the musket
seemed as if he was guarding the staircases-
there was only one man on guard. Ellis, Smithers,
the deceased, and several others, w^ent in with me,
I don't know how they came in. They were of
course ordered. They were all constables, in
number about a dozen. I was the first person
that entered. Mr. Birnie, the magistrate, was
not there at that time ; he was at hand in the
street, giving orders. The man who stood at tlie
door as sentinel was walking about. I did not
stop to see what he did particularly, but imme-
diately called out to some of the party who (cA-
lowed to secure him. I am not aware that they did
secure him, for I immediately w^ent up the stairs.
I believe that man w^as taken ; but I am not aware
that he was apprehended then ; I believe he was
caught afterwards. I ascended by a sort of step-
ladder staircase. The stairs were so narrow,
that the officers were obliged to ^^o one by one.
When I got up to the top of the ladder, I ol)-
served a sort of table or carpenter's bench, and a
number of arms on it. Thistlewood vvas on the
right-hand side of the table. I know^ Thistle-
wood very well. I have followed liim for days
and nights together, i think about twenty-four
or twenty-five persons were assembled. There
were diflerent sorts of arms on tlie table : a
variety of pistols and swords. Tlicy lo-jkcd as
if they were sorted out. They were handiui;
about as if they were ;.'iving or distribiiliiiL
them to each other. Arthur Thistlev/ood v/as one.
I am quite certain that he was present: I have
followed, h'im for days together. He stood by tiio
side of the table handing arms about. lie iiad ; n

INQlEiiT ON SMITHERtS.. 33

a sort of a long brown coat, I think. I knew
him as well as 1 knew my father; quite as well.
I could not be mistaken. I have no doubt what-
ever as to the identity of Thistle wood. As soon
as I thought that three or four of the party were
up, I said aloud, " We are officers, seize their
arms." I did this to warn the people who we
were. As soon as I said this, they each took up
what they could from the table, and retired to the
farther part of the room. Thistlewood, being near
a door that leads into a little closet over the
coach-house, retired into that room. He was not
further from the door of the little room than I am
from that gentleman who is writing there (pointing
to a gentleman who sat writing within about four
feet of witness). There were others in that little
room ; how they got in there I cannot tell. I
suppose there were five or six, or four or five
persons in it. The wdiole party appeared at that
time to be armed. Thistlewood, as he retired, had
a sword in his hand, which he moved in a me-
nacing way to keep the officers off'. He was not
striking with it, but moving his arm round as if
to make a stab. The sword appeared bright.
As we approached, he retired ; and Smithers, who
was within a pace of me to the right, stepped for-
ward with his staff. Thistlewood immediately
stabbed him, and he fell on me. A pistol was
then fired ; I know not by whom. I saw the
swords of the party directed against the candles,
which were immediately put out. Thistlewood
stabbed the deceased in the right side as he ap-
proached. He did not come out of the little room
to do it. He was within the little room, and
thrust forward his arm to strike the blow. I saw
the sword he carried ; it was bright, and glittered.
I did not see the hilt. It was a long Ijlade, three
feet and a half or four feet long. It appeared
straight ; but he waved it in such a way, that my
eyes might have deceived me as to its shape.
2 F

34 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

When Smithers fell, he fell upon me, being-
stabbed on the right side, and I standing a little to
his left. I could not at the moment tell whether he
appeared to be much injured. In falling, he said,
" Oh, Lord ! Oh, my God ! I am done I" I believe
these were his words, or something of that sort.

I don't know whether Thistlewood drew the
weapon out of his body ; for instantaneously a
pistol was fired, and the lights were put out. I
have been enabled to recognise three of the per
sons who were in the room, besides Thistlewood,
I think, since. They are Shaw Strange ; he has
another name; a man named Blackburn, and
James Wilson. There was another man who
stood at the door, and fired at a sergeant ; his name
is Tidd : I don't know his christian name. The
sergeant at whom he fired is present. Tidd first
attempted to fire a pistol at Captain Fitzclarence.
I seized his arm, and he pulled me down on him.
I called on the sergeant to take the pistol from
him, and he fired at the sergeant and tore his
clothes. I am sure that Blackburn, Wilson, Shaw
Strange, and Tidd, were present. There were
also two other persons taken, who had been in
this house (the Horse and Groom) in the course of
the evening. I did not recognise them in the
room ; but I know they were apprehended, and,
I believe, admitted that they had been there.
They left a stick behind them in the Horse and
Groom ; the end of it was evidently cut for the
purpose of holding a weapon.

It was like a broom-stick, with a hole cut in the
top. The persons that I allude to have admitted
that they were in the room at the time the officers
entered ; but I do not know it. One of them was
taken by Captain Fitzclarence ; I have seen him
here before. These two persons came in to drink
a pint of porter, and left the stick behind them in
a mistake. One of them came back, and asked
for a little walking-stick. The boy, who thought

ISyUEST ON S.MITHERS, 35

it a queer sort of a stick, had taken it up-stairs,
but returned it to the person who called for it.
That stick was at the public-office. These per-
sons called at the Horse and Groom an hour
before the officers proceeded to the loft. Nothing
took place before the party fired, except my
exclaiming, '' We are officers — take their arms."
When Smithers fell, a pistol was fired, and the
lights were put out. I cannot say by whom the
pistol was fired. The moment Smithers fell, some-
body in the room where Thistlewood was, cried

out — " Kill the b rs ; throw them down

stairs !" I also cried, " Aye, kill them,'' that they
might mistake me for a friend. There were nine
persons taken that night. I was not present at
the apprehension of all of them. While I was
securing two of them the rest were brought in.
After I had secured Tidd, Wilson, and Blackburn,
I proceeded to secure the others ; they were then
conveyed to Bow-street, and afterwards to the
House of Correction.

Several of the party escaped ; nine only being
taken, and the number in the room appearing to
me to be about twenty-five.

When the prisoners were secured by the soldiers,
I went up into the loft, and saw Smithers lying
on his face ; this was twenty minutes or half an
hour after the entrance had been made. There
were hand-grenades and arms lying about the
room. I had no time before to pay attention to
Smithers. A man below stairs endeavoured to
escape from the door ; he had a pistol in his
hand. I called out, " Secure that man !"' When
I did so, he lifted his arm, and attempted to fire
the pistol at Captain Fitzclarence ; i caught hold
of him, and the sergeant cominir up, 1 desired him
to take the pistol. The man fired, and struck the
sergeant's coat with a bullet.

1 believe only four of us got up. The party in
the room fired directly at the staircase, thinking

36 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

we were coming up in numbers. If they had not
done so, they would have killed me, for I stood
at one side of it.

There was somebody below who I expected
would take care of the sentinel ; but, m the con-
fusion, he was handed from one to another, and
thus escaped for a few minutes. It was quite
dark, and I could not see the party escaping.
There were, I think, twenty shots fired at us.
It appeared to me as if some shots were fired
from the window into the street to create alarm.
The whole civil power present on the occasion
was not more than twelve or fourteen men. I do
not know the man who was acting as sentinel ; I
believe his name is Davidson. He is a man of
colour. I had not time to notice him particularly.
I believe he was the man who was walking at the
foot of the stairs, with a cutlass by his side, and a
musket on his shoulder. I believe there was one
light in the lower part of the building where he
was. Some one, however, cried out, " They are
up-stairs,"' and we heard the clashing of arms.
1 cannot identify the man who was below stairs,
I cannot swear to him. There was another officer
shot on the left side of the head ; he was danger-
ously wounded ; his name is Surman. Another
officer, of the name of Westcott, had two or three
shots through his hat. One of the bullets struck
him on the finger, but did not hurt him mate-
rially. 1 was not wounded at all. At the time I
did not know friend from foe. Immediately when

the party cried out, " Kill the b s," I also

said, "Kill them," in order to deceive them. I
had a brace of pistols ; one of them flashed in the
pan. The lights being out, I was ai'terwards
afraid to fire, lest I might kill one of my comrades.
There was a latch to the door which led into the
street, and I found no difticuity in getting in. I
secured a considerable quantity of arms ; amongst
the le-t there was a large grenade, and .several

INQUEST ON SMITHERS. 37

hand-ffrenades. The lar^e one consistea of a tin
canister, with a plate at top, strengthened by
several pieces of iron, and bound round with a
quantity of tarred rope. I got eight of the hand-
grenades ; they Mere about the size of my dou-
bled fist. I also found in the room two swords,
and some ball-cartridges, which are in my pos-
session.

The large grenade wei^'hs fourteen or fifteen
pounds. It is a canister strongly bound with tarred
rope. It is not circular. A number of pistols,
swords, cartridges, and bullets, were also found
in the room.

No person but Thistlewood oftered violence
before the candles were put out. There were
likewise found in the room about three dozen of
weapons, which resembled a sort of bayonet.
The bottom part had not a socket like a bayonet,
but a screw to fasten into a stick. I found also a
dozen of sticks, formed ibr the purpose of being-
fitted to those bayonets.

The bayonets ajipeared to be newly made.
They are very rough, and not at all brigluened or
polished. The balls I picked up in the room were
not fired from pistols. If they had, they would
have been flattened ; I desired the men to })ick
the arms up, and each man to keep safely what
he found : in consequence, some where in the pos-
session of one man, and some in that of another;
two or three muskets were either found in the
room, or else taken from some of the persons who
had been apprehended.

The party had no notice but what I gave that
we were officers.

The deposition of this witness having been read
over to, and signed by, him,

James Ellis was next called. — Having been
sworn, he stated, I live at No. '22, Paradise-row,
Palmer's-village, St. Margaret's, Westminster, and
am an officer belonging to tlie Bow-street patrol.

38 CATO-aTREET CONSPIRACT.

I am also a constable. On Wednesday night last,
about half-past seven o'clock, Mr. Stafford, the
chief clerk at Bow-street, directed me to take
"Richard Smithers, John Surman, and William
Gibbs, and to proceed in a coach with them to
John-street, Edgeware-road, as fast as possible,
there to meet Mr. Birnie, who would give us
further orders. We did so ; and when we ar-
rived at the spot, we found Mr. Birnie waiting.
He inquired whether we had seen any thing of
the military. We told him we had not. He said
he expected them every minute. In about twenty
minutes Mr. Birnie called us together. Some in-
quiries were made, but 1 don't know of whom,
as to what number were likely to be in the room
to which we were going, and whether Arthur
Thistlewood was to be there. Mr. Birnie gave me
a warrant, signed by Mr. Baker, of Marlborough-
street, to apprehend Arthur Thistlewood and thir-
teen other persons named in it. I have not the
warrant ; I have given it to Mr. Baker. On our
being called together, and Mr. Birnie being given
to understand that Thistlewood and others were
in the room, he asked how many there might be
present, and was informed that there was about a
dozen. He then inquired how many there were
of us. We told him about a dozen also. He said
he had been disappointed in the soldiers, who had
perhaps missed their way, and were half an hour
too late, and that we must |)roceed to apprehend
the parties. We said we would do the best we
could. Smithers observed, if there were forty of
them we would secure them. Mr. Birnie then
directed me to call Ruthven, another officer, out
of the Horse and Groom, and we were sent for-
ward to the house, the military not having come
in time, lluthven opened the door and went in ;
it was a kind of stable where the meeting was
held. lluthven went in first, I followed him.
When I entered the stable I observed a man with

I.VQUESr ON SMITHERS. 39

belts on, a musket or fusil on his arm, and a sword
at his side. I believe he held tiie musket in the
position which soldiers do, when on duty. He
was walking backward and forward. Ruthven
desired some person to take charge of him. I
took him by the collar, turned him half round,
and gave him to some other person, observing at
the same time that he was a man of colour. At
that moment Ruthven was at the foot of the lad-
der, up which he went. I followed as closely as
I possibly could, and was immediately followed by
Smithers. Before I got up the ladder, I heard a
clattering of swords. I heard Ruthven say at
that moment, " We are othcers, seize their arms,''
or " lay down your arms," I cannot tell which.
Upon gaining the top of the ladder, Ruthven turned
a little to the left, to go round a table or carpen-
ter's bench. I observed a number of men falling
back to the other end of the room. They were
apparently all armed. I also saw three or four
men backing into the little room on the right.
They were all armed with swords or cutlasses.
A tall man immediately brandished a sword at me :
his foot was advanced in a fencing attitude, as if
he meant to stab. 1 held up my staif in my left
hand, and presented a pistol at him with my right ;
I held up my staff that he might see it, to shew
him what I was. The light was then as good as
it is here : it was very lightsome : 1 desired the
man to desist, or I certainly would fire. I did not
fire then, I did afterwards. I did not know who
the tall man was that threatened me at the time,
but I have seen him since, and I know it was
Thistle wood. There were some persons in the
furtlier room to the right. There was another
closet near to the ladder, which was not discovered
nor opened for half an hour afterwards. No one
was found there. Smithers rushed past, and en-
deavoured to get into the little room. I saw the
tall man draw his hand back, and make a thrust

40 CATO-RTREET CONSPIRACY.

of a sword at him, which I saw strike him on the
breast.

It was the same tall man, Thistlewood, who had
flourished his sword at me. The manner in which
he did it made me fix my eyes on him, so as to
mark the kind of countenance he had. Smithers,
on being struck, immediately threw up his hands,
fell towards me, and exclaimed, " Oh ! my God !"
I instantly fired at the man who killed Smithers,
but I missed him. Smithers fell against me at
the time, so as to drive me to the head of the
stairs. A rush was then made by the party, and
I was knocked down from tlie top to the bottom
of the ladder. The moment I fired, the candles
were all put out with the swords.

I think there were four or five and twenty per-
sons present. There were four or five in the
small room. The time was so short that very
little observation could be made. I ran to the
door, when two or three shots were fired in the
stable below, where I was. I don't know by
whom they were fired. It was in the dark, and 1
could not discover friend from foe. I do not know
that any officer fired except myself. I have not
heard of such a thing. When I arrived at the
door, I heard a cry of " Stop him," and instantly
saw a man running at the other side of the street ;
I pursued, and took him in the ?!treet, about twenty
yards from the door. When laying hold of him,
he made a cut at me with a lono- sword. This was
the man of colour. I received a cut, a very slight
one, in the leg. I think it was when his arm, in
striking at me, swung round my neck, that the
sword, which was a very long one, hit my leg.
The man's name is Davidson. I believe him to
be the same man who kept the door, but I will
not positively swear to that. I took him to a
shop at the corner, and seized his fusil, whicii was
that of a light-horseman, but perhaps rather
heavier.

1NQUE<?T ON SMITIIKRS. 41

I have seen Thistlewood, and I believe him to
be the man that struck Smithers. I did not know
him at the time. I saw him for six or seven se-
conds, or more, when he brandished his sword at
me, until he went towards the little room. On
seeinqf that, Smithers rushed forward, and the
moment he got near the door, I saw him struck.
I was sure that he was killed. It was a stab — a
thrust — he received. The sword was long, very
bright, and triflingly turned at the end. It seeme'd
sharp on both sides. He brandished it at me.
The whole space of this time was not more than
ten or twelve seconds. 1 saw the man with his
sword, before I got to the top of the ladder. As
soon as Davidson was secured, I returned to the
place, and I then found the military had come. I
left Davidson in a shop, with two of our people to
take care of him. The prisoners were all dis-
armed, and I proceeded to tie them together. T
was only a few minutes gone when I took David-
son. I stayed as little time as I possibly could.

As soon as I had tied the prisoners 1 went to
Smithers ; he was lying on his face. I turned
him up, and I believe he breathed faintly. I
afterwards found a pistol, a bayonet, a quantity
of ball cartridges, and several bullets. Many
other weapons were found by the officers.

1 am most positive of the identity of Thistle-
wood. I feel no hesitation on the subject.

[Here the witness handed some of the bullets
Mhich he had taken to the Jury.]

Witness continued. — I was entering the centre
of the room when Smithers })assed me. I had my
eyes fixed on Thistlewood, when he was brandish-
ing: his sword. I am able to recocfnize him, thouirh
I could not recognise any of the others. I saw
Iiim for eight or ten seconds, but I cannot speak
to his dress: it was a dark dress, but I cannot
speak to it distinctly. I heard yesterday, that
Thistlewood was the person who struck the blow,

2 F

42 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

but that did not affect my opinion. I would have
sworn to him, if it had not been mentioned.
There were several persons wounded. An officer
named Biggs was wounded. The place where
the business ocurred is not ten yards from this.
It is the first stable down the yard, and is, I think,
on the north side of the street. When I fell down
the ladder, I fell on some of the officers who were
coming up. I should have been shot if I had not
so fallen. There were several shots fired in the
stable. I had a cutlass by my side, but could not
use it. The flashes were numerous below, but I
could not see who or what they w^ere who fired.
In the confusion Davidson escaped, but I after-
wards took him. When I came back there were
several persons in custody. There were many
shots fired from the window.

We officers carry cutlasses, but they could be
of no use against the length of the swords which
the party made use of.

I cannot state the specific words of the warrant.
It was given to me in the street by Mr. Birnie,
and has been placed in the hands of Mr. Baker,
the magistrate.

The Coroner inquired of Pyall, the beadle,
whether he had the warrant in his possession, and
was answered in the negative.

The Witness . — The warrant was in my posses-
sion ; it authorized us to apprehend Arthur This-
tlewood and thirteen other persons named in it,
for unlawfully assembling together, but for what
specific purpose I cannot say, and to bring then*
before the sitting magistrate, to be dealt with
according to law.

Pyall, the beadle, was despatched to Mr.
Baker for the warrant, and the deposition of Ellis
having been read over to him, he signed it.

William Westcott next underwent an exa-
mination to the following effect : — I live at
No. JO, Simmons-street, Sloane-square.Westmiu-

IN'glKST ON SMITIIERS. 43

ster, and am one of the assistant patrol of Bow-
street. — On Wednesday night last, I was sent to
the stable in Cato-street, by order of Mr. Birnie.
1 accompanied Ruthven, Ellis, Smithers, and
others to the spot. Ruthven went first, and I
followed Smithers. I was behind him in the
stable. The moment Ruthven, Ellis, and Smithers
had gone up the ladder leading to the loft, I
seized a man in the stable below dressed like a
butcher. His name 1 believe was Ings. — When
I entered, he rushed out against me : and finding-
resistance, put his hand to his belt, as if to
pull something out of it. I immediately knocked
him down by hitting him on the right eye. lie
was dressed in a long coat beneath his jacket, and
had an apron over the whole. This happened be-
fore the first pistol was fired, and 1 was in the act
of handcutfing him when I heard a fresh pistol
fired in the loit. 1 had not quite succeeded before
Thistlewood came down the ladder, and as he
was upon the steps fired a pistol ; whether levelled
at me or not I cannot say. Seeing me so busily en-
gaged in securing the butcher, he levelled another
shot at my head, and at the same time made
several cuts at me with a sabre. The pistol went
off, and the shot penetrated my hat. 1 knocked
him down with the stick 1 had in my hand, but
he rose and succeeded in making his escape.
While I was engaged with Thistlewood, Ings con-
trived to make his escape also ; when Thistlewood
was gone, I found that I was wounded in the
hand, and that some shot had gone through the
flap of my coat. In the mean time both Thistle-
wood and Ings succeeded in gcttmg away. I pur-
sued Thistlewood, but in vain, and after having
followed him through several streets, 1 returned
to the stable. I then went into the loft, and saw
the deceased lying dead on the floor. There
were several persons present, and the })risoners
had bccH snbdiucl.

4i cato-strki:t conspiracy.

The Jury asked the witness whether Thistle-
WDod was the first who came down the steps? —
There was a complete rush, and I did not par-
ticularly observe whether he did or not. Did he
come down before the officer Smithers fell? — I
did not see the officer fall. You went with the
whole body of the officers ? — Yes, I did. There
were only three officers, I understand, in the loft ?
— I believe no more. Where were the others ?
— Tliey were upon the scout. Then I under-
stand that after the three officers mentioned had
gone up, Thistlewood came down, and prevented
others from ascending the steps? Yes; and he
fired down the steps to prevent the ascent of
others.

Charles Moy. — I live at No. 11, London
court, Mary-le-bone, and am a watchman. On
Wednesday night, about half-past eight, I appre-
hended Ings, while Brooks was in pursuit of him.
He fired at Brooks ; but I cannot say what fire-
arms he used, as he threw it down before I
reached him. Brooks cried out. Stop thief! and
I immediately apprehended him. The ball went
through the coat and waistcoat of Brooks, and
grazed the top of his shoulder. I took Ings down
to Mary-le-bone watch-house, assisted by Brooks
and another officer. I searched him, and found
seven or eight bullets in his pockets, some gun-
powder in a tin flasket, and a haversack. He had
a kind of belt on each side for pistols.

Sergeant Legge, of the 2d battalion of Cold-
stream Guards, w^as next examined. — On Wed-
nesday evening last I was called uj) about eight
o'clock, and received orders to march to Jolm-
strcet, Edgware-road. I was then quartered in
Portman-street barracks. A picket, usually em-
ployed on occasions wlien the military is required
in aid of tlic civil power, was ordered out. it
was commanded by Ca[)tain Fitzclarencc. Upon
arrivina- at Jolm-strcet, we were unable to aseer-

I\QL KM 0\ SMITH r.KS. 4,')

tain the spot whitlier we ought to proceed, and
the captain advanced to ascertain what we were
to do. When he returned, he ordered the picket
to advance at double quick time. Upon reaching
the stable in Cato-street, I observed a man stand-
ing with a pistol in his hand. He presented it at
Captain Fitzclarence, and I knocked it aside with
my pike. I then seized the muzzle-end of the pis-
tol with my hand, and a scutHe ensued between the
man and myself about the pistol. I kept firm hold
of it till it went off, and the ball passing by my arm,
tore the cloth off my sleeve. (Witness here ex-
hibited the sleeve of his coat, which appeared to
be very nnich torn.) In wrestling with the pri-
soner, I held my face down to the lock of the pistol,
and as it went off the ball grazed ray right eye-
brow. As soon as the pistol was discharged, the
prisoner let go his liold. I secured him, and de-
livered him over to the police. I believe the
prisoner's nanie is Tidd. After this skirmish I
followed my oHiccr and ])art of the picket up the
steps into the loft. The greater part of the picket
had reached the loft before I was disengaged
from the jirisoner. When I had reached the loft
I discovered a table in the centre of it, nearly
covered with pistols, blunderbusses, ammunition,
and other arms of various descriptions. Three
men liad then surrendered ; I think tlieir names
were Monument, Cooper, and Gilchrist. I do
not recollect what police-oflicers were })resent at
the time. Upon looking on the floor, I saw the
deceased lying dead at my feet. His body was
exaniincd by the picket, and I perceived the
wound on his right breast. I was ordered back
to the barracks ibr a reinforcement, and when 1
returned, the whole of the prisoners taken that
mom.ent were collected into the loft. Upon the
arrival of the reinforcement, the prisoners were
conveyed to Bow-street.

Here one of tlie jury observed, that the inrpiest

46 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

had proceeded far enough to ascertain the acts of
Thistlewood. The Coroner replied, that those
who were aiding and abetting in the murder were
equally guilty as the principal ; and it would be
necessary to ascertain who they were, and what
they did.

Here the examination was interrupted by the
arrival of a messenger, with a letter from Mr.
Baker, the magistrate, to the Coroner. It was
read aloud, and was to the following effect : —

" I beg to inform you, that I granted a warrant
on Wednesday the 23d instant, for the appre-
hension of Arthur Thistlewood, and several others,
on a charge of felony, and that I afterwards re-
ceived from Mr. Ellis an order to lay it before
the Privy-Council on the examination of the pri-
soners when in custody. It has not yet been
returned to me, nor do I think that I shall be
able to obtain it at the present moment. Perhaps
it would be better to adjourn the inquest for the
present, and I will endeavour to get it for you
to-morrow, or send you the information, on which
it was issued."

William Sarmojst. — I live in Edgeware-road,
and am a tailor by trade. On Wednesday night,
about eight o'clock, I was passing through Cato-
street, and when opposite to the stable I heard
Westcott say that Smithers had been stabbed.
In two or three minutes afterwards two men
rushed out of the stable. One of the two cut me
with a sabre on the hat. He was a tall man dressed
in a dark coat. He struck at me twice, and
hit my thigh, but fortunately did not wound
me. I was so frightened at the moment, that I
could not tell which way he ran, and I did not
stop to look. There were many people in the
street at the time. I do not know the appearance
of Thistlewood. I only observed that the man
who struck me was of a pale complexion, and
wore a dark long: coat. The other man who ac-

INQUKST ON SMITH ERS. 47

companied him out of the stable did not attempt
to strike me. They both passed behind me on
the right hand, I think, through the gateway
towards John-street. I heard several shots within
the building, while I was standing opposite the
stable. That night I wore a loose coat, and by
that means I was not wounded. I saw Westcott
go into the stable, and I knew him well. 1 had
seen him many times before.

Here the exammation of the witnesses ter-
minated, and the Coroner expressed a wish to
receive some information respecting the christian
names of those who had been described as having
been apprehended in the stable. He thought
there was no distinction between the case of
Thistlewood and the other prisoners; they all
entertained the same mischievous design, and
shewed their purpose but too plainly, in being so
well furnished with fire-arms, hand-grenades, ^-c.
He wished to know whether the gentlemen of the
Jury were satisfied with the evidence already
received.

A jurpiian said, he wished to put a question to
Ruthveu, the officer, before the verdict was pro-
nounced ; but Mr. Pyall, the summoning officer,
stated, that Ruthven had gone away, notwith-
standing his particular request that he should
remain.

The Coroner wished to know whether any of
the Jury required an adjournment of the inquest;
if they did, he would willingly attend to their
request. The Jury unanimously declared that they
were satisfied ; and the Coroner, in a formal
manner, asked, " Is Arthur Thistlewood guilty or
not guilty of murder?"

Foreman. — Guilty.

Coroner. — Is William Davidson guilty of murder
or manslaughter ?

Foreman. — (.hulti/ of murder.

One of the Jury wished to ask a question, which

48 CATO-STREKT COySPlRACY.

he thought of some importance, before the verdict
was pronounced upon ail the prisoners. lie wished
to know whether those who might have met for a
different purpose were equally guilty of the mur-
der with Thistlewood ?

The Coroner replied, that there could be no
doubt that they were implicated in the murder as
much as Thistlewood himself, for whatever illegal
purpose they might have met. They had impeded
the officer in the execution of his duty, and one of
them had killed him.

A Jim/man. — If any of the prisoners had been
put in the same situation as Thistlewood, they
would probably have acted in the same manner.

Another Jiiri/man. — But are those who surren-
dered themselves equally guilty ?

Coroner. — There can be no doubt of it. They
were all assembled for one common purpose, and
the act of one is the act of the whole. It is clearly
murder in them all. If a man intends to do a
mischief to another, and, instead of killing him,
happens to kill a second, it is equally murder, as
if he had killed the man he intended.

A Juryman. — Another doubt arises in my mind.
Had not these men a right to defend themselves,
after the pistol had been fired by the officer Ellis ?

Coroner. — Certainly not ; there cannot be a
doubt upon it.

The jury, by their foreman, then pronounced a
verdict of '* Giiilb/ of Murder" against the follow-
ing prisoners: .James Ings ; Charles Cooper;
Richard Tidd ; John Monument ; John Charles
Strange ; Richard Blackburn ; James Wilson ;
James Gilchrist ; and others unknown.

In the course of the day, the afflicted parents of
the deceased visited the body, and showed much
feeling npon the occasion. The old couple were
so decrepit as scarcely to be able to get up stairs.
Smithers was a stout, good-looking man, about
thirty-three vcars of aue.

KUNKRAL 01 IBMITMERS. 4y

In addition to the wound that was the immedi-
ate cause of the death of Smithers, it was found
that a pistol bullet had penetrated his shoulder
nearly six inches. It was extracted by Bennett,
and was found to have been cast from pewter.
A second sabre wound was also found under his
blade-bone. In what manner these wounds were
inflicted, there are no means of knowing, but it is
supposed they occurred after his fall.

On Thursday afternoon, the i2d of March, at four
o'clock, his remains were removed from his lodgings
in Carteret-street, in the Broadway, Westminster,
and buried in the church-yard of St. Margaret's,
Westminster, amidst a great concourse of sympa-
thizing spectators. It was too trying a task for
his widow to undertake to follow him to the
grave, and she was prevailed on not to attempt
it. The deceased's father and brothers followed
as principal mourners. They were succeeded by
some private friends, and a numerous assemblage
of officers and others belonging to Bow-street
office ; Mr. John Lavender, belonging to Queen-
square police-office, to which the deceased for-
merly belonged ; Mr. Armstrong and his son,
both officers belonging to the police-office in Wor-
ship-street; making in the whole 67 persons;
thus showing the last mark of respect to a de-
parted officer, who had fallen a sacrifice by the
hands of a ferocious assassin.

The procession passed through the following
streets ; the windows of each house were filled
with spectators of both sexes ; — Tothill-street,
Dartmouth-street, Great and Little Queen-streets,
Great George-street, and through the grand open-
ing leading to St. Margaret's-cliurch. The rush
from the crowd to gain admittance into the latter
})lace was astonishing; but no accident occurred.
The service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Rod-
ber. The church-yard was filled with an immense
crowd of persons of all descriptions, among^

2. H

which were numerous soldiers belonging to the
Guards. A general regret and pity seemed to
pervade the whole of this vast assemblage at the
melancholy fate of this unfortunate man. The
procession then returned through Tothiil-street
to Carteret-street, when the officers returned to
the undertaker's. The whole of this funeral was
conducted in the most decorous manner ; and se-
reral magistrates were amongst the spectators.

On Sunday, the 27th of February, at one
oVlock, the Cabinet Council assembled at the se-
cretary of state's office for the home department,
to proceed with the investigation of the charges
against the assassins. Their lordships were as-
sisted by the law officers.

Robert Adams, late a private of the Royal
Ilorse-Guards, and who had become king's evi-
dence, was examined before their lordships, m hich
occupied their time till half-past two o'clock,
which was then too late an hour to proceed w^ith
the examination of Abel Hall, a tailor, who had
been apprehended on Saturday morning by La-
vender, Bishop, and Salmon, the officers, in
Seward-street, Chiswell-street.

A quantity of ball-cartridges, a musket, and a
cavalry sword, which they found concealed in a
ruinous shed at the back of a small house near
the Regent's park, were this day produced. The
woman occupying the house was also brought up,
but after a short examination she was discharged.
It did not appear that she had any knowledge of
these things being on her premises. These ar-
ticles appear to have been deposited in the place
where they were found by some of the conspi-
rators in their retreat.

On Monday, the 28th of February, the Privy-
Council again met, and on this day a proclamation
was placarded in different parts of London, of-
fi»ring a reward cf 200/. for the apprehension of

•USPncTRD PF.RSOMi. &1

John Palis, alias Peeling, who had been charged
with high treason. He was described as being a
child's chair-maker, and as having been formerly
a corporal in the East London iMilitia, and about
forty years of age.

Private information was the same evenins ^iven
to Lavender and Bishop, tliat Palin, for whose
apprehension the reward of 200/. had been oftered,
was concealed in a house in the neighbourhood of
Battle-bridge. They proceeded inimediaLely with
their informer to the Sj)ot described, but found
that there was no ground for the suspicion which
Iiad arisen. Though the officers did not tind
Palin, they found three men and a woman of
somewhat suspicious appearance. One man was
in bed, and said he was unwell. The patrol
suspecting him to be one of the Cato-street gang
of assassins, and that he was in bed in conse-
quence of the bruises he had received, made him
get u]), when he was found to have all his clothes
on cxce])t his shoes. They stripped him, but he
had no bruises. The other two men were melt-
ing lead in a frying-pan. One of the men lived
at that place, the others in Monmouth-street and
Brownlow-street. They were all three brought
to the office, and underwent an examination be-
fore Mr. Birnie, when there being no charge
against them, and they not being known, they
were discharged. It is supposed that Palin
might have taken the alarm, and escaped at the
back of the house while the officers were knock-
ing at the door.

The notorious Preston, the cobblinq: politician,
of Spa-fields' memory, was also this day arrested
on suspicion of being concerned in the plot,
under a warrant issued by R. Birnie, Esq. It
a])pears that the lodgings of this man were
searched a few days before, but nothing of
a suspicious nature was found. On those oc-
casions he facetiously said — ** his armory could

H 2

52 tATO-STREET CONiSPlRACY.

not boast of a swan-shot, nor his port-folio of a
scrap of paper of the slightest political interest."
Circumstances afterwards transpired which led to
his arrest upon a charge of high treason. He
was found industriously engaged in mending a
shoe, with his family about him. He was sur-
prised at this new visit, but submitted to his
fate with cheerfulness, not unaccompanied by an
apparent sense of his own importance. His
daugliters were highly indignant at this intrusion
on their domestic privacy. The officers con-
ducted their prisoner to Bow-street office, from
whence he was sent to the Marquis of Anglesea
public-house opposite. He was placed under the
care of Lack, one of the patrol. He called for
" a pipe and pot," and, seating himself before
the fire, seemed perfectly happy. He laughingly
said to a gentleman who went to see him, that
he thought " the farce would not be complete
till he was taken." He had previously denied all
knowledge of the late conspiracy. After being
shortly examined before Mr. Birnie, he was sent
to Covent-garden watch-house, where he re-
mained in confinement during that night. On
the following morning he was removed from that
place of confinement to the secretary of state's
office for the home department, where, at twelve
o'clock, the Lords of the Council assembled, con-
sisting of the Cabinet Ministers, the Marquis of
Camden, Mr. Peel, Sir William Scott, Sir John
Nicholls, Mr. Sturges Bourne, together with the
Attorney and Solicitor-Generals, and other law
officers.

Mr. Buller, one of the principal clerks of the
council, attended to take the minutes of the pro-
ceedings. When Preston was taken in before
the Lords of the Council he behaved with his
usual boldness and low insolence to most of their
lordships personally. He called upon them with
the most ludicrously impudent arrogance, and

SUSPECTED PERSiONSr 53

asked wliat they meant by sending for him to dis-
turb his peace of mind, and to disturb the eco-
nomy of his family, alhiding to liis three daughters
binding shoes, and himself making them.

The examination of this impudent fellow lasted
about half an hour, after which he was committed
to Tothillfields-bridewell in the custody of two of
the Bow-street officers. When he returned from
the Council Chamber he was almost breathless,
and gasped out to those about him — " Bless me,
how 1 perspire ! but I always do when 1 have
any thing like a subject to speak upon." Whilst
his commitment was making out, he requested
to be assisted with a little porter. Some porter
was given to him, and whilst he was drinking it
Lord Castlereagh passed through the hall, when
Preston observed, " Aye, there he goes ! His
lordship will rcmemlier what I have said to him
as long as he lives. I have talked more treason,
as they call it, to-day, than ever I did in my
whole life before." The porter seemed to inspire
him, and he was proceeding with more remarks,
when the officers received his commitment, and
he was led to the coach which was to convey
him to prison. A number of gentlemen were
assembled in the hall ; and, as he passed through
the midst of them, he bowed and smiled on all
sides, repeatedly saying, " God bless you all."

In the course of the day an application was
made at the police-office, Bow-street, by one of
Preston's daughters, to be allowed to see her
father, and to deliver him some clean linen ; she
was referred by the magistrate to Lord Sidmouth,
and accordingly wrote the following letter to his
Lordship, which she carried to the office of the
Home Department, and delivered it to one of the
messengers, while she waited in the hall for an
answer : —

" My Lord, — I entreat your Lordship to allow
an agonized daughter to have an interview with

54 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

her father, who was dragged from home, and his
family, consisting of three daughters besides
myself, totally unprotected, on a charge of which
he is completely innocent, and of which he has no
knowledge whatever. My father's house was
searched four times successively on four different
davs, and nothins: was found that could at all
criminate him in the late dreadful proceedings.

** I have called at Bow- street for the purpose
of giving my father some linen, and also to know
if he could be held to bail, and have been re-
ferred to your Lordship. I am now waiting in
the lobby of the Home Department Office with
the linen to give to my father ; and I hope your
Lordship will grant me an interview with him.
'' 1 am, my Lord,
" Your Lordship's obedient humble servant,

" Anx Preston."
" 17, Princea-street, Drury-lanc, Fth.'^Q.
" To Lord Viscoimt Sidmouth, §cc.&.c."

After being absent some time, the messenger
who carried the letter to his Lordship returned,
and told her she must call again on the following
day for an answer. She then inquired where her
father was, and was informed that he had been
examined that day before the Privy-Council, and
had been committed. She then left the office in
tears.

The next morning she waited at the office of the
Home Department, as she had been directed, for
an answer to her application. She saw jNIr. Hob-
house, and was told by him, that she could not see
her father till after the following Friday; and, if
she would call again on the Saturday, she avouIU
probably have an order to see him. She waited
in the lobby until her father was brought out, after
his examination before the Privy-Council, and he
looked very anxiously at her; but they were not
allowed to speak to each other. Shs h?d a bundle
of linen ; and, when her father was conveved to

iiU«tP£c;TEl) PERSONS. OJ

Tothill-fields prison, she followed him, and «'ave
the linen to the governor.

About this time Waddixgto.v, the fellow who
had been brought into scjnie notoriety, by his arre.st
for being the bearer of a placard, the object of
which was to create an unlawful assembly on
Kennington Common, appeared before Mr. Hicks,
the sitting magistrate at Bow-street, and with
ridiculous effrontery, stated that the reason of
his calling was to..say that the officers had seized
his books and papers, which they were very
welcome to do, as he had nothing in his possession
that he was ashamed of, or that could lead to
any charge. His landlady, who was present
when his place was searched for books and
papers, told him that the officers had left a
message, desiring him to attend at the office, a.s
he was wanted there ; and he consequently at-
tended.

Mr. Hicks, the magistrate, professed hinaself
unacquainted \^ ith the affair ; but desired thiit
inquiries should he made, and it turned out that
some of the ])olice-officers had searidied his
lodgings, and had seized his books and papers;
but they denied having left an\^ message for his
appearance at tb.e office, and there was no doubt
but that it was a mistake of his landlady in
relating to him what had passed.

Tiic magistrate inffjrmed him that he had no
charge against him. Waddington withdrew from
the otfice, after telling the magistrate that he
might always be found when wanted.

We are happy, however, to announce that this
man has since relinquished politics, and taken np
the more Cjuiet occupation of porter to a tallow-
chandler. From his former enthusiasm in the
cause, however, it was su])poscd possible that he
might ha\e afforded shelter to some of his quon-
dam friends, and accordingly the officers were
directed to f-arch his lodgings. They found no

5G CATO-STREET CON3PIRACr.

trace of radicalism, except a whole-length portrait
of himself, blowing a horn, carrying a large bundle
of twopenny trash under his arm, and in his hat a
paper, inscribed " Order, order ! Public Meeting
in Smithfield on Wednesday next.^' Underneath
was written " Samuel Waddington, printer and
publisher to the Radical Union."

Having had occasion to introduce the names of
these men, who have lately forced themselves
on the notice of the Public by their absurd, but
highly mischievous, interference in politics, it may
not be thought altogether irrelevant if we intro-
duce a description of the Radical Committee Room,
at the White Lion, Wych-street, this being the ren-
dezvous, or place of meeting, where these self-
elected Radical Committees held their nightly
meetings.

The White Lion was a public-house, but has
very properly been deprived of its hcense by
the Magistrates. It is situated a short distance
from jXewcastle-street, towards the New Inn ;
the entrance to it from the street is up a dark
narrow passage, about thirty yards long. In the
tap-room, over the embers of an expiring fire,
sat a set of suspicious, ill-looking fellows, huddled
close together ; whilst at a small deal table to

the right sat Mr. , with a book and some

papers and printed bills before him ; from the
obscurity of the place, having no light but what

proceeded from a candle placed before Mr. ,

or from that in the bar, a stranger coming in
would not be able to recognise any of the laces
on seeing them afterwards elsewhere. On the
right hand, on entering the house, is a small
parlour; here of an evening a select committee
assembled, and no others were admitted. This
was the room in which the most private transac-
tions \\ ere carried on ; Mr. Thistlewood or
Dr. Watson always came out into the passage to
speak to any person who called there on business.

EXAMIXATION OF THE CONSPIRATORS. 57

In a very large room up stairs, and which is oc-
casionally used as a school-room, upwards of a
hundred ill-looking persons have assembled of an
evening; in it the open committee and loose
members of the society met; it had ranges of
forms all round and across the room, and had
hardly ever more than two or three candles to
illuminate it. Here their processions, ^c, were
arranged ; their flags, ^c, kept ; whilst the more
private business was carried on below in the
parlour.

We now resume our narrative of the proceed-
ings previous to the final commitment of the pri-
soners for trial.

On Thursday, March 2d, the Lords of the
Council met by appointment at the Secretary of
State's office for the Home Department, at twelve
o'clock in the forenoon, to deliberate on the
charges against the prisoners, and to determine
on the best and most proper mode of proceeding
against them without interrogating the prisoners
or examining any witnesses. The meeting was
attended by the Cabinet Ministers, the Marquis
Camden, Viscount Palmerston, Mr. C. P. Yorke,
the chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer in
Scotland, the Hon. R. Ryder, Sir John Nicholl,
Mr. R. Peel, Mr. W. Huskisson, the Master of
the Rolls, and Mr. S. Bourne. There were also
present the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-Ge-
neral, and Mr. Baker, the magistrate belonging
to the police-office in Marlborough-street, who
signed the warrant for entering the premises in
Cato-street, and for the apprehension of the gang.
Their lordships continued in deliberation till near
half-past two o'clock.

In consequence of some mistake in the trans-
mission of an order, a number of the prisoners
were brought up from Coldbath-iields prison, to
the Secre-tary of State's office^ but as their lord-

58 CATO-STRKKT COXSVlflACr.

ships had determined not to enter into any exami-
nation of the prisoners themselves on this day,
they were sent back under an escort, a few minutes
after their arrival.

The next day another meeting of the lords of
the council took place, which was attended by the
same persons as that on the previous day, with
the addition of Mr. Sheriff Rothwell, Sir William
Curtis, and other public characters.

Soon after eleven o'clock in the morning, Laven-
der, Salmon, and other officers, arrived in three
coaches at Coldbath-fields prison, with orders from
the Secretary of State, to bring the conspirators
to Whitehall, for examination before the Privy
Council. Mr. Adkins, the governor of the prison,
immediately delivered over the following prisoners
into the care of the officers, vis., Thistlewood,
Monument, Wilson, Davidson, Tidd, Gilchrist,
Ings, Bradburn, Shaw, Cooper, and Brunt. They
were immediately conveyed in the coaches pro-
vided for their reception to Whitehall. The pri-
soners were all handcuffed to each other.

About the time that this detachment reached
Whitehall, Mr. Nodder, the Keeper of Tothill-
fields prison, arrived at the same place in a coach,
with rreston, Simmonds, Harrison, Hall, and
Firth, the keeper of the loft in Cato-street.

The whole of the prisoners, on their arrival at
Whitehall, were placed in the first apartment.
Those from the House of Correction were placed
in a line, handcuffed together, on the bench im-
mediately facing the entrance, and the Tothiil-
fields' prisoners were seated on a bench at the
right-hand side of the room.

The appearance of the whole was wretched in
the extreme, and one or two of them seemed
mere boys. Thistlewood appeared quite downcast,
his features every day undergoing an alteration
for the worse ; his complexion had become quite
jaundiced, and his general appearance nerveless

rXyXMIXATIOX OF THF, CONSPIRATORS. 59

and emaciated ; he wore the old brown surtout in
which he had been seen of late in the streets, and
kept his eyes occasionally gazing with indifference
upon the strangers who thronged the room, but
mostly fixed on the ground. Davidson, the man
of colour, seemed perfectly at his ease, and talked
cheerfully to the prisoner who sat next hina.
Preston was not only c|uite composed, but enjoy-
ing a constant smile of self-complacency at the
inquisitiveness with which strangers as they
passed asked •' Which is Preston ?" " Which is
Thistlewood ?" Preston seemed in his usual good
spirits, and had not a little of the appearance of
having exhilarated them in the course of the
morning by a jolly draught. While the prisoners
were in this room, a considerable number of gen-
tlemen were permitted to pass through the room,
but none to converse with them. The police-of-
ficers were stationed at the end of each seat.

The Council being assembled, they were exa-
mined singly before their lordships.

Arthur THisTr.F.woon was the first who was
called in. The officers immediately unlocked the
handcuff of the prisoner, and conducted him to
the Council- chamber. He went up stairs with
great alacrity, and being introduced, he was
placed at the end of the table, with an officer on
each side of him. The Lord Chancellor presided,
and informed the prisoner that he was about to
be committed upon the double charge of high trea-
son and murder. He made no reply : but looked
round at the assembled ministers M'ith a malignant
scowl. This was all that passed, and he was
immediately re-conducted to his companions : he
smiled as he came back, and returned to his for-
mer seat. In a short time, as if in contempt of
the authority by which he was coerced, he put on
his hat, and assuming a look of defiance, re-
mained in that state for the remainder of the day.
All the other prisoners were subsequently taken

I 2

60 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

up in the same manner. Monument and Sim-
monds were the last, and these did not return for
nearly half an hour. It appears that they, at this
time, endeavoured to make their peace by a dis-
closure of what they knew.

The soldiers engaged in the affair were then
called in, and desired to look at the men whom
they thought they could recognise. Sergeant
Legge and nine privates were present. They
soon came forth, and said they had no doubt as
to the identity of the men they had assisted in
securing. All the arms and ammunition taken from
the prisoners, and in Cato-street, were deposited
in an adjoining room under a guard.

When Ings returned from the Council-cham-
ber, he resumed his seat with great suUenness ;
and as soon as the officers had replaced his hand-
cuffs, he and Thistlewood entered into conversa-
tion with great eagerness. Thistlewood spoke
almost in a whisper ; but Ings was more loud ;
and, at the close of their conference, he ejaculated,
as if talking to himself, but loud enough to be
heard by all in the room — " It is want of food
which has brought us here. Death — death would
be a pleasure to me — I would sooner be hanged
this instant, than turned into the street there ; for
I should not know where to get a bit of bread for
my family ; and if I had fifty necks, I'd rather
have them all broken, one after the other, than see
my children starve !"

Preston continued very talkative and lofty. He
seemed bursting with impatience to go before the
Council ; raising himself from his chair every time
the door opened, in hope of being the next called ;
then sinking back into his seat with vexation and
disappointment, and exclaiming, ** Oh ! how I
long to go up ! My gsnus is so great just now, I
don't think there is any man alive has so great a
genus as mine is at this moment." Then he would
pore upon the ground for a minute or two in deep

CONDUCT OF THE CONSIMRATORS. 61

cogitation ; and at length break out into the follow-
ing soliloquy : — " If it is the will of the Author
of the World that I should perish in the cause of
freedom — his will, and not mine, be done ! It
would be quite a triumph to me !— Quite a triumph
tome!" — at the same time throwing his arms
about in a manner which savoured strongly of in-
sanity. It was not, however, his fate to be called
before the council at all at this time ; though, when
Thistlewood and some others expressed regret
that they had not applied to have their families
admitted to see them — he desired them very pomp-
ously to make themselves quite easy upon that
head, for he would take care to mention it in his
speech to their Lordships.

Immediately after the prisoners had all been
called in, an express was sent off to Captain J. H.
Elrington, fort-major of the Tower of London,
directing him to prepare for the immediate recep-
tion of ten state prisoners.

The whole of the examinations having been
brought to a conclusion, the council proceeded to
deliberate upon the course which was to be
adopted with respect to each individual case.
They remained thus engaged for nearly two hours.
During this interval the crowd in front of the
office greatly increased, and the most anxious
entreaties were made to be permitted to see the
conspirators. These were in most cases ineffec-
tual. Only a few noblemen were permitted to
enter, including lord Westmoreland, lord Stair,
and some others.

The prisoners being themselves pretty well ap-
prized of the charges which were to be preferred
against them, became less equivocal in their
behaviour. Wilson, Davidson, and Tidd, who
were linked together, were n)ost daring. They
laughed in derision at the persons who came to
view them, and seemed to be little affected by
the situation in which they were pleiced. Brunt,

G2 CATO-STRKtT CONSPJ KACY.

in imitation of his captain, put on his hat, and
thus assumed the character which has been
assigned him, of being second in command. At
half past four Mr. Day, the clerk of the papers,
was sent for by Mr. Hobhouse, the under secre-
tary of state, who communicated to him the
orders of the council.

On Mr. Day's return, he stated to Sir Nathaniel
Conant and Mr. Baker, who were remaining in
his office, that eight of the prisoners were to be
forthwith committed to the Tower, He then
produced the list, and called over the names of
the persons to whom he alluded. These were :

Thistlewood,
Monument,
Brunt,
Ings,

Wilson,
Harrison,
Davidson,
Tidd.

The men came forth as they were called, and
were handcuffed two and two. A short time now
elapsed while the warrant to the constable of the
Tower was preparing, and until messengers were
despatched to obtain carriages, and require the
presence of an escort of the Life Guards. This
period was occupied by the prisoners in a sort of
confused conversation. Harrison and Thistlewood
at once threw off all reserve, and shook hands.
The others began to speak freely. Davidson said
he should like about a pound of beef-steak and a
pot of porter, and his companions agreed that it
would be no bad finish to their day's amuse-
ments. Thistlewood said aloud, " I hear the
Spaniards are getting on famously !'' Wilson
answered, " Are they — a cursed good job !"
••Aye/' repHed Thistlewood, "They'll all have
it in their turn ; they may scrag a few of us, but
there is more going on than they are aware of."
Harrison laughed, and exclaimed, " Aye, time
will show all things."'

A bustle outside now announced the approach
of the Horse Guards, wlio drew up in a double

rOMMITMRNT OF Till!: CONSPIRATOUS. G3

column iu front of the ofHce, under the command
of Captain Mayne. A hackney coach then drove
up to the door, into which Thistlewood and
Brunt were put, accompanied by Mr. Ruff, one
of the king's messengers, to whom the warrant
was dehvered, and by two police-officers. The
coach then drew off to a short distance, preceded
and followed by four of the Life Guards. A se-
cond carriage then came up, into which Davidson
and Ings were put ; they were likewise guarded
by two officers. Ings, as he mounted the coach,
exclaimed, "Hurra, boys'." in expectation, no
doubt, of having a cheer from the crowd that
was assembled. In this, however, he was dis-
appointed ; not a word escaped from the lips of
the by-standers at all in unison with the prin-
ciples of the conspirators — on the contrary, they
seemed to be viewed with feelings of strong
disgust.

Wilson and Tidd were placed in the third
hackney coach : they went out laughing ; but,
previous to their departure, they turned round,
and, in common wnth all those who had been
confined in Cold Bath Fields prison, begged to re-
turn their grateful thanks to Mr. Adkins, the go-
vernor, and to his assistants, for the humane and
kind treatment which they had received while
imder their care : they also were guarded by two

r'olice-officers. The last who went out were
larrison and Monument. The latter, whose di-
minutive size made him appear somewhat lu-
dicrous when placed beside his giofantic com-
panion, was greatly depressed. Tliese men were
in like manner guarded by two of the Bow-street
patrol. The whole four carrias^es being now in
readiness, and a constable having mounted each
box, the cavalcade set off, completely surrounded
by the Horse (.luards.

'i'hey ju'oceeded over Westminster-bridi^'e, and
iVom thence bv tlie ^^\^'-t^linsU:L■-road, through

64 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

the Borough, and over Lonaon-bridge, up Fish-
street-hill, down Fenchurch-street, the Minories,
across Trinity- square to the Tower gate ; and
although followed all the way by an immense
throng, not one expression of commiseration
was heard to escape.

Ings's conduct was most daring : he continued to
exclaim against His Majesty's Ministers with the
most undisguised abuse, using language of the
most revolting nature. He either knew, or af-
fected to know, many persons in the crowd, to
whom he nodded, and some of whom gave him a
significant shake of the head in return.

Thistlewood made no observation : he seemed
to be looking anxiously from the coach window,
as if to see if there were any persons passing
whom he could recognise.

Brunt looked extremely gloomy, but did not
say any thing.

Davidson did not seem at all affected by his
situation, and continued in good humour.

Wilson and Tidd laughed, and looked out of
the coach windows with apparent indifference ;
and little Monument seemed to have sunk into a
state of despair: he said he supposed he was not
long for this world.

On reaching the upper gate of the Tower,
leading to the armoury, it was found shut; but, on
a regular summons being made, it was opened
without hesitation, and the prisoners and their
guards admitted. Notice had been sent off to
the Tower, in the early part of the day, to pre-
pare rooms for the prisoners, but still it was with
some difficulty that secure apartments could be
got in readiness ; at last the necessary accommo-
dations were obtained, and the prisoners were
left under the care of the yeomen of the guard.

The warrant upon which they were received
by the constable of the Tower, was to the fol-
lowing effect : —

ARRIVAL AT THE TOW En. f>5

" Y'ou are hereby required to receive into
your custody, Arthur Thistlewood [then followed
the names of the other prisoners] who stand
charged with high treason, and them safely to
ktep till discharged by due course of law, for
which llii.-4 shall be your sufficient authority." —
Then followed the names of the privy-council,
commencing with the Lord Chancellor, Earl West-
moreland, 6>;c.

This warrant was written on a sheet of foolscap
paper, with a black border, and bore the official
seal. It was accompanied by a private note to
the constable, containing instructions as to the
manner in which the prisoners were to be treated.

They were accordingly received by Captain
Elrington, the major of the Tower, who, after
some difficulty, from the shortness of the notice
which he had received, succeeded in finding them
secure apartments.

Each prisoner was })laced in a separate apart-
ment ; two warders armed in the usual way, with
cutlasses and halberds, were placed in each
room ; and at each door was stationed a sentinel
armed, to whose care was intrusted the key of
the room, with strict orders not to permit more
than one warder to be absent at a time, and that
only for occasional purposes.

Thistlewood was placed in the prison known
by the name of the Bloody Tower.

Davidson was in the prison ever the water-
works.

Ings in a different room of the same prison.

Monument in the prison at the back of the
Horse-armory.

Brunt and Harrison occupied separate apart-
ments in the prison over the Stone-kitchen.

Tidd was secured in the Seven-gun Battery
prison, and Wilson in the prison over the parade.

The prisoners were permitted to have, by the
indulgence of the law, what is called state allow-

K

GG ' CAT0-9TRF.FT CONSPIRACY.

ance, for their daily maintenance, which, to such
wretched poverty as theirs, must have made even
their awful situation, as compared with their con-
finement in Coldbath-fields, a change for tlie
better.

The number of warders sufficient to do the
ordinary duty of the Tower is ten ; but, as soon
as the command for preparing the prisons reached
the proper quarter, directions were given to in-
crease the number of warders to sixty.

The iron gate at the east end of the Tower was
closed on the arrival of the prisoners as usual
upon such occasions.

Immediately after the departure of the delin-
quents charged with the crime of high treason,
from the Secretary of State's office, Mr. Adkins,
the Keeper of the House of Correction, in Cold-
bath-fields, was informed that six of the remain-
ing prisoners were to be consigned to his custody,
namely — Bradburn, Strange, Firth, Gillchrist,
Hall, and Cooper. These men were then brought
out, and escorted to Coldbath-fields prison, un-
der circumstances precisely similar to those which
had attended those who had gone to the Tower.
They were accompanied by Mr. Silvester, a King's
Messenger, to whom the warrant for their com-
mitment, similar to the one addressed to the
Constable of the Tower, was intrusted, and se-
veral officers of the police, and by an escort of
the Life-Guards.

Mr. Adkins, the Governor of the House of Cor-
rection, was asked if he had got the Coroner's
warrant for the commitment of the men pro-
nounced by the Coroner's Jury to have been guilty
of the wilful murder of Smithers ? He answered
in the negative. No such warrant had been trans-
mitted to him by Mr. Stirling. A messenger was
then despatched to the coroner, who had omitted
to make out the warrant, and he waited w^hile it
was prepared in the usual form

Auui:sr o\ (.r.onGi,. 67

Simmonds, the footman, and Preston, were
remantled to the custody of Mr. Nodder, the
governor of Tothill-fields prison, and were taken
there in a hacknev-coach ; and thus ended the
final examination of the conspirators by the Privy-
Council.

In addition to the gang taken at Cato-street,
and the subsequent arrests which we have al-
ready recorded, a young man, named Rokeut
George, was apprehended, who was with good
reason, suspected of being one of that gang, and
whose discovery and appr-ehension arose out of
the following extraordinary circumstances :

At the time the coroner's inquest was sitting on
the body of the murdered Smithers, Perry, the
conductor of the patrol, who was then in attend-
ance, was called out by two soldiers, who in-
formed him, that on that day they had been
informed by a boy, that he had discovered a de-
pository of fire-arms and deadly weapons in an
extraordinary way, by his having been at play in
Chapel-street, Paddhigton, and losing a marble
behind some building in that street. He v/ent
behind the house of Mr. George, a haberdasher
and tailor, in search of the marble, and seeing in
a closet some fire-arms, a sword, 4"c., he men-
tioned it to the soldiers.

Upon this intimation Perry hastened to the
spot as soon as possible, and found a narrow pas-
sage leading to the back oi Mr. Cieorgc's pre-
mises, and also a closet fastened by a staple,
situate under a staircase, which answered the
description of the information he had received
where the fire-arms and deadly weapons were
deposited. Perry iu((uired to whom the closet
belongetl, and was iniormed that it belonged to
Mr. (jeorge, tl'.e tailor and haberdasher. Mrs.
George soon a|)i)eared, of whom Perry also m-
qiiired how the closcl became fastened, when

K 2

68 CATO-STREET CONSPIUACY.

Mrs. George informed him that she had fastened
it in consequence of the wind blowing it cipen.
He desired her to produce the instrument with
which she had fastened the staple, which, on
being produced, resembled a hammer, and with
which she also unfastened it.

On the door being opened. Perry discovered
a musket, a bayonet, a pistol, sword, powder,
and balls. He then inquired if those articles be-
longed to them, and the mother denied that they
did. The daughter, who was present during the
investigation, wrung her hands, and appeared
greatly distressed. Perry then proceeded into
the house, and found Mr. George employed in
his business of a tailor, who also denied any
knowledge of the fire-arms and deadly weapons,
and admitted that his son occupied a house on
the opposite side of the street, and might have
deposited the fire-arms, ^c, in that place.

On inquiry it was ascertained, that the son had
absconded since the night of the meeting in
Cato-street. Perry desired that Mr. George would
attend at the office, and he himself accompanied
Mrs. George and her daughter. On their arrival
at the office, they underwent private examina-
tions before Mr. Birnie, but nothing appeared
which could criminate any of them ; but strong
suspicions existed that their son, Robert George,
was present at the Cato-street meeting, at the
time Thistlewood murdered Smithers.

From that time the officers had used every
vigilance in endeavouring to trace him out.
Ruthven and Salmon received information of his
being concealed at a house in Goswell-strect,
whither they repaired, but were unsuccessful in
finding him. They nevertheless had discovered
that his anxiety to leave this country was so
great, that he had offered himself to be engaged
in any capacity wliatcver, in any vessel going to
the ]v..ist-JiHl.ics ; lliey also learm d that, huvjnp:

ARREST OF GLCRGE. GO

before been a seafaring man, he liad succeeded
in engaging himself as a servant on board an
Indiaman; and their exertions were so great,
that they gained intelligence, on which they
could rely, that the last place he would be at,
})revious to leaving London, would be the Dundee
Arms, ^yapping, near the Commercial Road, where
they went and waited, having no doubt but he
would be there to start by the boat for Gravesend
on Sunday, the 5th of March, from which latter
place the Indiamen were to sail on the following
day. They waited there till about seven o'clock,
at which time Robert George entered the house.
lie inquired for the Gravesend boat, and was in-
formed that it had sailed a few minutes previous.
On receiving that information, he appeared ex-
tremely agitated and disappointed : he called for
some brandy and water, and seated himself.

During this time Ruthven and Salmon had satis-
"led themselves beyond a doubt of his identity,
and having had reason to believe that he would
bo fully prepared with arms for a desperate resist-
ance, Salmon watched an opportunity, when he
iiistantly rushed upon him, and, presenting a pistol
to his head, exclaimed. " If you offer to stir, I
will fire.'" Ruthven then handcuffed and pro-
perly secured him. On searching him they,
however, found that he was not prepared with
any arms, and his luggage consisted only of his
clothes. The officers placed him in a hackney-
coach, and lodged him in Covent-garden watch-
house.

During the following day they made diligent
inquiry as to the manner in which he had dis-
posed of Iiis time since his escape from Cato-
street, wlien they learned that a lodging had
been procured for him in Earl-street, Bricklane,
They also traced out his brother, who lived in
that nciglibourhood, who denied any knowledge
of his place of residence; but the oHiccrs disco-

70 cato-stri:et coxsriRACY.

vered that the brother had actually procured the
said lodging for him, and in his possession they
found a large thick stick, at the bottom of which
was a thick iron ferrule, about two inches long,
which was hollow at one end, and appeared cal-
culated to receive a pike or dagger, which he
acknowledged to have received of his brother
George, on his parting with him on Sunday
evening, previous to his entering the Dundee
Arms.

On searching Robert George's lodgings in Earl-
street, they did not discover any thing of a serious
or dangerous nature. The prisoner underwent a
private examination before Mr. Birnie, which was
reported to the Secretary of States office for the
Home Department; no orders were, however,
sent for his conveyance there, and therefore a
commitment was made out for the prisoner,
Robert George, to the House of Correction, on a
charge of high treason, whither he was conveyed
in a hackney-coach, in the custody of Mr. Atkins,
the governor of that prison. Perry, who was ori-
ginally in the pursuit of him, and one of the
patrol.

Before entering on the trial of the notorious
AiiTnuR TiiisTLEwooD, for the double crime of
high treason and murder, for which we have
traced his commitment on the clearest and most
satisfactory evidence possible, we shall present
the reader with a brief sketch of his early life,
and some particulars of his conduct after his
arrest.

Thistlewood was a native of Horncastle, in Lin-
colnshire, and was born in the year 1770; his
fatlicr was land-steward to an ancient family in
that ncii;hbourho()d ; he was placed at an cnrly
period of life with an eminent English scImkjI-
master, to be educated as a land-sur\ cycir. This
])ursuit in life he afterwards declined following,

ACCOIN'T OF TUIiJTLEWOOD, 71

and at the age of twenty-one became a lieutenant
in a militia regiment ; soon after this, he married
a young lady, of the name of Bruce, residing
near Bawtry, in Yorkshire, who was possessed of
]>ro{)erty amounting to 300/. per annum. Thistle-
wood resigned his commission in the militia, and
obtained another in a marching regiment, with
wdiich he went, at the commencement of the revo-
lutionary war, to the West Indies, where he soon
gave up his commission in it, and afterwards })ro-
ceeded to America ; there he resided for some
time, when he obtained a passport ibr France, and
arrived there shortly after the downfall of Robe-
spierre. He became initiated in all the doctrines
and sentiments of the French Revolutionists, and
at the peace of Amiens returned to England, when
he became acquainted with the disaffected in his
native country ; since which his whole life, it
seems, has been spent in seeking opportunities to
overthrow its constitution.

From the period of his release after his former
indictment lor high treason, the Government had
taken care to have all his actions watched, and his
movements traced ; but even with all this precau-
tion, it is possible that the diabolical scheme, of
which he was evidently the author and chief mover,
would have been carried into effect, had it not
been for the remorse of the man who made the
disclosure to Lord Harrowby.

One night, during his confinement in Coldbath-
fields prison, the following remarkable occurrence
took place in the cell uf Thistlewood. In the
course of the evening, Mr. Adkins, the governor,
sat with him a short time, and conversed wath him
on general topics. He was very communicative
on the subject of the diiferent prisons in which
he had been confined. He spoke of Horsham as
being extremely strict, and observed, that the
rules laid down for the management of the prisan
were observed to the letter, without anv reference

72 CATO-STREF.T CONSPIRACY.

to the rank of the party confined. He gave the
preference to the Tower as a place of incarcera-
tion. The usual hour for locking up having ar-
rived, Ke was left to the society of his usual com-
panions. He soon retired to rest. His mind
seemed restless, but, after some time, he fell into
a profound sleep — thus he continued awhile, when
he became evidently agitated — at last he ex-
claimed, with a sort of convulsive shriek, ** Ha !
I've got you now ! " and then, becoming more
strangely disturbed, he awoke in a sort of phrensy :
for a moment he did not seem to recollect where
he M^as ; but, on seeing his companions with their
eyes fixed upon him, he affected to laugh, and
said, " What strange things one thinks of in one's
sleep. ^^ He remained awake for a considerable
time, and, at length sunk again into an unquiet
slumber.

On the subject of his arrest he spoke freely be-
fore his final commitment, declaring that he knew
the man by whose instrumentality he was taken,
and that he was with him that morning, and was
the only man who knew of his retreat. He added
that but for the people in the house, the patrol
who arrested him in White-street, and his brother
officers should have fallen. His companions said,
*' Why you had no arms ; how could you have
effected their destruction?" *' Ah !" he replied,
" they thought they were very cunning ; but cun-
ning as they were, they were not cunning enough,"

This was but a vain boast ; for, at the mo-
ment the officer seized him, he was evidently
paralized. He shewed no disposition to resist.
No arms were found in the room, with which he
could defend himself, and when he was carried
off to Bow-street, six officers were left behind to
search every hole and corner in the house. This
they did, and found nothing to warrant an opinion
that he was capable of making a formidable
resistance.

ACco\:sT or THisn F.^\■o()D. 73

It is, however, rather a suspicious circum-
stance, that while the officers were enf,^af^ed in
securing their prisoner, the hmdlad}'", Mrs. Harris,
sHpped out, and gave an intimation of what was
occurring to her husband, ^vho was a type-foun-
der in the manufiictory of Messrs. Cashjn. From
that time he has been " out of the way." It
v.'as ascertained that he was the manufacturer of
all the bullets found upon the conspirators. A
warrant was issued for his apprehension.

The oilicers are satisfied that the arms which
Thistlewood liad in Cato-strcet have not been
found, and imagine that he deposited them with
some friend. It is a matter of surprise, that in
getting rid of these evidences of his guilt, ho
should have kept in his possession the black belt
which was seen round his waist in the loft, and
which, Vvitli some ball cartridges, was found in
his pocket m White-street.

Up to the time of his last appearance bef re
the Privy-Conncil, lie made no inquiries respeci-
ing his family, but Vv-as particular in his qnc-'-
ti(nis as to the persons who had been a: rcst.'d.
Among others, he mentioned the name of Palin,
for wdiose apprehension a rev/ard of two hiindrevl
pounds had been offered, and again describing in
the most minute manner the person of Brunt, with
an evident intention to avoid mentioning his name,
he asked if he was arrested? l^pon these heads
he received no satisfactory answer.

Mrs. Tliistlewood is a smart, genteel lin\"'
woman, dresses wel', and from the first seemed
perfectly alive to the situation of her husband, in
wdiose piditical sentiments she heartily concui's.
On the oilicers going to search h.cr lodgings, she
did not manliest any of tliat alarm wliich, in a
female, might be considered natural. She received
them with calnniess, accompanied ])y a certain pir
of dignity, and demanded their aulliority lor
scarcinng licr premises. Being satisfied on ti.js

L

74 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY,

head, she permitted the search to be made without
further hindrance. She has a son, who seems a
genteel ingenious youth. When she obtained
permission to visit her husband, the interview
always took place in the presence of an officer,
and her person was scrupulously searched, even
to the removal of her stays and cap, and these
precautions were continued from first to last.

The prisoners all standing fully committed on
the clearest and most satisfactory evidence, the
preparations for their trial commenced, and on
the 8th of March the following Special Com-
mission of Oyer and Terminer was issued by the
Crown : —

George the Fourth, by the grace of God, of the united
kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, defender of
the Faith, to our most dear cousin, William Henry Duke
of Portland ; our well-beloved and faithful Councillors,
Sir Charles Abbott, knight, Chief-Justice, assigned to
hold Pleas before us ; Sir Ixobert Dallas, knight, Chief-
Justice of our Comt of Common Pleas; Sir Richard
Richards, knight, Chief-Baron of our Court of Exchequer ;
our beloved and faithful Sir ^^'illianl Garrc)\v, knight,
one of the Barons of our said Court of Fxcliequer;
Sir William Draper Best, knight, one of IIk^ Juslices
assigned to hold Pleas before us ; Sir John Kichardson,
knight, one of the Justices of our said Court of Conunon
Pleas; Sir John Silvester, baronet; ?Seunian Jvnowlys,
Francis Const, Charles BGsan(;uet, Charles 'i'relawny
Brereton, James Clitherow, James Ferguson, Edmond
Alexander Howard, Richard Paul Joddrell, Sanuiel
Purkis, Thom.as Wood, and Peregrine Dealtry, Esqrs.,
greeting.

lEtnotO JIC that we have assigned you, and any two
or more of you (of whom one of you, the afoicsaid Sir
Charles Abbot, Sir Robert Dallas, Sir Richard Richards,
Sir ^V illiam Garrow, Sir William Draper Best, and Sir
John l?icliardson, we will sl'.all be one) our Jutiices and
Commissioners to inquire bv tli(.' oath of good and lawful
mcii of our county of Middlesex, of al! High Tn ascjiis
and misprisions of High Treason, (otlier th;ni such as
relate to the coinX and of ttie nuuilt'r of one !''(!;;sid

SI' in A I. < OM M I;jm1() N

Smilliois, ilt'ceastHl, iiud of iiiiv oilier <'iiiuc oi oliciice
toKcluiig the death ol' the said Kirhurd Siuithers ; ami ot
aiiy olieiice or ottences against, touchiii'^, or coiict ruing the
jicrsons ot" rredcrick I'lt/c laience, W dhani Ligge, James
t'^lhs, John Suiinaii, \\ iiliarii W estcoatt, ^\ illiani Cliailes
iMooks, John Muddock, aiici Benjamin (iill, or any ol
them, contrary to the form of an Act made and [lassed ni
the foity-thiid year of the ici«;n oi' our hue idvuI father,
l\ii;g (Jeorge the Third, cntitkul '' An A<t tor ihe fuilher
prevention of tnaUcious shooting, and altemptnig to di--
thargc loaded liie-arms, stabbing, cutting, wonntling, poi-
soning, and the mahcions using of means to procurt' the
miscarriage of womeji ; ai\d also the n)alicious setting lire
to buildings;" and also for repi^ding a certain Act made m
England, in tl;e tw entv-first vear of the hite King James
the First, entitled, " An /Vet to prevent the de>troying and
imutieriU';.' of bastard cliildrcM ;" and also an Act made in
Ireland m the sixth vear of the late Queen Anne, also
eiitidid, " An Act to prevent the destroying and mmdeiing
of bv^tard children, and for making other pro\isions in
lit II l!-ieii ..)f ;" and also the accessories of them, or any ot
tli':.i, wnhin our Count V aioresaid, as well within libeitus
as \vilhour, by whonisocvtr and m \^hat manner soevt r
dr„;e. Committed, or p( rp.etrated, when, how, and alter
what manner; and (*f a!! other ai tides and circumstances
coucenuiig the premises, aiul every or anv of the!n, in auv
ma;n-i(. r whatsoever; and the said trt :isous and other the
p>remi>es according to tlic laws and customs of I'aigland for
ihis time- to hear and determine ; and iherefure we com-
mand you, tliat at a certain dav and place, whuh }ou '""r anv
two or more of von (of whom one o\ vou, the said Sir
Cliaries Abbott, Sir Piobeit Dallas, Sir Pviehard l-Jic hards,
Sir v\'il!iam Gaiiow, Sir \\ dliam Draper Best, and Sir John
Kichardsu'.i, v", <; will shall be oiu{), shall for this pui'|)ose
appoint, you make diligent iiujuiries iiito the premises, and
that \ou do hear and determine all and singvdar the pro-
ii'.ist s aforesaid, and do cruise to \)c done therein what to
]u~>lice apperiaius, according to the laws and cti>toms of
Englai.d ; saving to us the ameiciaiiK ul<, aiul other things
iVoiu tln.>nce to Us aeciuiui^. We «lo also command all
and everv oiir ollicei^, mini>Lers, ant! sul^ucts, l)y virtue ot
these presents, that they attend, ad\ise, oliey, and assist }ou
m the e.\i( utioii wf the jtit i,iise.>, in all things as it bthovci;
them. And we do al>o command, i)y these j)re>tnts, our
-^lurifF of our said c<nmty of Midiilesi'S, tliat at such ctitain
iiiy and place, as v^ui, oranv two or more of you, (s/t whom

' 2

76 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

que oi" you, the aforesaid Sir Charles Abbott, Sir Robert
Dallas, Sir Richard Richards, Sir William G arrow, Sir
William Draper Best, and Sir John Richardson, we will
shall be one), shall make known to him, he do cause to
come before you, or any two or more of you (of whom one
of you, the aforesaid Sir Charles Abbott, Sir Robert Dallas
Sir Richard Richards, Sir William Garrow, Sir William
Draper Best, and Sir John Richardson, we will shall be
one), such atid so many good and lawful men cf our said
county, as well within liberties as without, by whom the
truth of the matter in the premises may be better known
and inquired into. In witness whereof, we have caused
these our letters to be patent. Witness ourself at West-
minster, the eighth day of March, in the first year of our
reign. " BATHURST.

Monday, March 27, 1820, was the day ap-
pointed for opening the Special Commission for
the trial of the Conspirators engaged in the Cato-
strcet plot, and the ofilcers of the Crown attended
accordingly in the court at Hicks's-Hall, at nine
o'clock in the morning. The gentlemen who
were summoned on the grand inquest were also
in attendance.

The M'itnesses for the Crown, about thirty in
number, were placed in a room by themselves,
preparatory to their being taken before the Grand
Jury. I'hose witnesses v/ho themselves stood
charged with being parties to the conspiracy were
in separate rooms, under the charge of constables.
Among them were Monument, who, it will be
recollected, was committed to the Tower ; and
Adams, who remained for some time a prisoner
in St. Martin's watch-house, but was afterwards
committed to the House of Correction in Cold-
bath-fields. This man had been labourini*- under
severe indisposition ever since his apprcheii-
sion.

The pike-handles, guns, pistols, swords, gre-
nades, daggers, ammunition, and other articles
seized on the persons of the prisoners, and in
Cato-street, at Brunt's lodgings, and elsewhere,
were deposited in the office of the clerk of indict-

C.HA M) Jl'IiV. 77

ments. When collected together they presented
a formidable appearance.

At ten o'clock the Attorney and Solicitor-Gene-
rals entered the Conrt, cuid took their scat at the
barristers* table. In a lew minutes afterwards
Chief-Justice Abbott and Chief-Justice Dallas,
together with Mr. Const, and other mag-istrates,
whose names were mentioned in the Commission,
came upon the bench.

Proclamation was then made for silence, and
the commission was immediately read l)y JNlr.
Dealtry, one of the clerks of the Crown-office.

The names of the gentlemen sunnnoiied on the
Grand Jury were then called over, and the fol-
lowing gentlemen were sworn :

Job Raikes, esq.

John Stock, esq.

Thomas INIilroy, esq.

Robert Batson, esq.

William II ills, csip

Menry Thomson, esij.

Richard Gibbs, es({.

Thomas Lomet, esq.

James Gordon, es(|.

William Anderson, es([.

William Parry, escp

John Booth, es([.

John II. Pakcnham, Cf-q.

Jolm Vv'arrcu, es([.

George l^^'ederick 'i^)ung, cscj.

Robert Mcacock, esq.

Richard .k'nnings, es([.

.Fames Taylor, esc^.

John Johnson, es([.

Prancis Douse, esq.

John William llorsley, cs([.

\\'illiam Bcnning, es([.

Stephen Taylor, esq.

These gentlemen having been sworn by Charh^^;

C A I O-ST Hi: K r CO MSP 1 K A C V

Abbott, esq. marshal to the commission, procla-
mation wa
delivered.

mation was made for silence while the charge was

Loud Chief-Justice Abbott then addressed
the Grand Jury in the manner following :

" Gentlemen of the Grand Inquest — We are
assembled in this place, under the authority of his
Majesty's Special Commission, issued for the
purpose of inquiring into, hearing, and determin-
ing, certain offences ; therein particularly men-
tioned. These offences are, first, all high treasons,
exce})t such as relate to the coin of the realm ;
secondly, all misprisions of treason ; thirdly, the
murder of one Richard Smithers, deceased, and
any other crime or offence touching the death of
that person ; and, fourthly, any offences com-
mitted against the persons of Frederick Fitzcla-
rence, George Legg, John Surman, William West-
cott, John Muddock, James Basey, and other
persons, or any of them, contrary to the form of
an act made and passed in the forty-third year.of
the reign of his late Majesty, for, among other
things, the further prevention of the malicious
shooting, maiming, stabbing, or wounding, any
person or persons ; and, gentlemen, it has bcccm^
my duty to offer to your consideration some
remarks on each of these subjects, for your as-sist-
ance in the discharge of the important duty
which will devolve upon you when the bills are
laid before you.

" The particular crime of treason to which it
would be proper to call your attention is to be
found, 1st, in the ancient statute 25 Edward III.,
and '2dly, in a statute passed for very wise ])ur-
poses in the TiGtli year of the reign of his late Ma-
jesty. [Mis Lordship here recited the enacting
clauses of ilic statutes to which he referred ; the
first (jf which declares it to be higli treason to
compa^s and imagine the death of the King or the

lOUl) cm Jb.F-JLSTlCE S CHARGE. /[)

Queen, or to levy war against tlie King within his
realm ; and, the second enacts, that if any person,
within or without the realm, compass or imagine
the death of the King, or his deposition, or to do
him any bodily harm, such as manning, wounding,
or imprisoning him, in order by force to compel
him to change his measures or counsels of govern-
ment, any persons so offending shall be guilty of
high treason.]

" You will observe, gentlemen, that in each of
the description of ofl'ences that 1 have enumerated,
except the levying of war, which is in the ancient
statute that 1 have alluded to, the words are,
" imagination and intention," which are words of
the same meaning, and the actual per})etration of
the crime is not mentioned. But it is further re-
quired by an ancient statute, that the })arty ac-
cused shall be prcjvably attainted; and by a latter
statute it is mentioned, that if tlie party shall
express, utter, or declare his intention by any
printing or writing, that is an overt act of such
intention. The law has wisely })rovided ibr the
public safety, that in cases of \\n> kind, which
involve the most ext('nsi\e ])ublic inischict, the
intention shall be adjudged the crime; but, at the
same time, for the safety of the individual cha.'ged,
it is required tiiat such intention shall be niani-
lested by some act tending towards the accom-
plishment of the criminal object charged.

" It may be proper to mention, that, before the
})assing ol' a late statute, it ^\"as settled by several
cases, and the opinions of the hrst text writers,
that all attempts to de}K)se the king from his royal
state, to restrain his })erson, or to levy war against
hnn, were high treason ; and all conspiracies, con-
sultations, and agreements for those purposes,
were overt acts of compassing and imagining the
death of the king. By the late statute, all these
things are made sul)stan*i\e treasons, and thereby
the law is made more clear to thc»se who are

80 CATO-SniF.ET CON'SPIRACY.

bound to obey it, and to those who may be en-
gaged in the administration of it.

" It may be also proper to remark, that all the
pomp and circumstances of military array are not
neceBsary to the first levying of war. Insurrec-
tions for the purpose of accomplishing the designs
I have mentioned to you by force, however ill
arranged, if they are to accomplish an innovation
in public affairs, in which the parties have no
special or particular interest, arc an actual levying
of war. Rebellion at its first commencement is
rarely found in military discipline or array, al-
though a little succcs may soon lead it to assume
those appearances. Any act manifesting a cri-
minal intention, and tending towards the accom-
plishment of the criminal object, is, in the lan-
guage of the law, an overt act. Overt acts may
be committed openly and manifestly; bui there are
other overt acts, such as meetings and consulta-
tions, and contrivances, agreements and promises
of mutual support and assistance, and incitements
to others to engage in the same scheme, are also
overt acts. Assenting to the designed purpose, as-
sisting in the preparation of weapons, or any other
thing necessary to the general design, are all overt
acts of the particular kind of treason, of the parti-
cular compassing and imagination to which they
may liappen to apply; and in tliis crime of high trea-
son the law acknowledges no accessaries, — all are
principals. All who participate in the design and
object, whether they enter iiito tliom early or late,
are e({ually guilty ; ibr it vvill be found in conspi-
racies of a treasonable nature, as well as all other
conspiracies, that each is engaged in accomplish-
ing some particular object, which is a part of the
general design. Some are more zealous and
ardent, others are more close and reserved ; but,
as they are all acting in pursuance of the same
iew and object, all are equally guilty. Overt
acts are most iinj ortant matters for your investi-

J U DG L :? Cii A noil.

tti

gallon. Ji IS necessary that the proof be set forth
in llio indictment, in order that the aecuscd njay
l)e ])repared for his defence ; but it is not neces-
sary th^it all the circumstances of proof should be
detailed, it is also required, in cases of hicdi
treason, that there should be two witnesses to the
overt acts. It is not necessary that there sliould
be tv.o \viincsses to every overt act; but if thei-c
])e one v.ilncss to one o\ert act, and another to
another, that is sunicient. Some one overt act
must be jrioved to have taken ])lace in the county
in which tl;e trial lakes })iace, as in the present
case, in ^ihddk'sex,

" liaviuLj- said tiius much upori (he lavv', as it
applies to hi^;Ii treason, I shall now address niy.-elf
to the' eases iikciy to be brouLj;-ht before you, in
order lliat you. r.iay apj)iy that law. l^ut in any
thing- I UKiv say, v.-ith refereiK'e to the inquiry in
which viiU a)'.' lil.^dy to be cn;^nu:ed, i rcji^v'st }ca
will eonsiikr i' u\] .^s si;];j>csiliun.

" it has been sapposcd thai a conspirccy was
f('rn\ed to a:.:>asslnate ceriaia pel sous enL:aL^ed in
tlie aiknii'isi ra.ii ai of the government of tlic ojuii-
trv, V. !i; i). l!iey were asseml)]ed at a dinner at tiie
h(vas(^ of one of Ihem, on February 23d: audit is
suppo-(!d tha/i a treasonabue hostility to the govern-
mei.t dietaicd ibnl act, for the a])olition of that
govcrui.ieiit \-.ould follovv' this assassination. In
furtheraiiCe of this dcbign, seven persons were
found alh;e.'t in the act ol" inunediale pi-eparaticni,
in a stub!',', wiih arms and oilensive weapons, suit-
able to the accemplishmeutiji'sach a traitorous pur-
pi;.-,e. 'i hose })erseiis,v,dien ai !emj)tcd to Rearrest-
ed by ihe peace-ofneers mid the uniiiary, in then'
endeavours to escape, which mai
killed (Uie liii'h'iid. omithers.
char-^cd — we:ipeus oi dealii w>
or ail (u' liie p^y- ■us nan^ed ^^^

" ()f Uie^:o uiaUvisatl ol" ycra ;

: !

'•I 1

' fl

n (

.■in.

K'ted,

i

• 1 ^; I

( ' •>

'>■■■,•

erv

,? dis-

*

USv

e i K

le;

:\d

1.

soiiie

l\'

0 , r

.,'. -i

', ■ I

\h\

. 1 . ;-(. !-«.

, I

lu

lib

cr

I V

most

82 CATO-STREUT COySPIRACY.

earnestly to entreat you to confine your attention
to the evidence laid before you, and to banish from
your minds such information as you may have pre-
viously received as to the motive or object of this
supposed consph'acy, or as to the conduct of the
particular individuals supposed to be engaged in it.

" I should tell you that a conspiracy to murder
public persons, however important their situations
may be, if arising from private^ malice, and not
intended to bring about any other object, does not
constitute the crime of high treason. But if the
assassination of such persons is meant as the first
step of a general design to attack and destroy by
force the government of the country, or to com-
pel the sovereign to adopt such measures as they
may think fit, then that assassination assumes a
different complexion, and may be considered an
overt act of one or both of those species of trea-
son which I have mentioned. If, therefore, a con-
spiracy to take away the lives of his Majesty's
ministers should be proved, you will look to the
object about to be obtained by that assassination,
and also to the number and rank of the persons
intended to be assassinated ; for the crime in-
creases not only with the number of the conspi-
rators, but with the number of the persons in-
tended to be assassinated.

" It is, indeed, difficult to conceive that persons
could from private malice alone, and without
having a public object in view, conspire together
to assassinate a number of individuals of whom they
could liavc no knowledge but from the public
situations which they filled. But the difficulty of
the supposition must not supply the place of evi-
dence. We well know that all attempts to sub-
vert the government of this country must, in the
calm and sober eye of reason, appear wild and
hopeless ; hnt you will consider that the mad
persons who indulge such views are led to dimi-
nish the difficulties and to magnify the success

JUDGES C HA RUE. 83

and the benefit attending their sehemes. It is
natural for the vicious to think tliat there are others
as wicked as themselves, and that they shall gain
numerous adherents if they succeed in their first
attem{)t. It is this belief that often leads them to
a premature disclosure of their purposes to those
whom they think likely to participate in their guilt,
and that thus furnishes evidence of their dan-
gerous designs ; but dark and deep designs are
seldom developed but through those who have
joined in them. The evidence of accomplices,
however, is always to be received with caution,
and the conviction arising from such evidence
should rest on circumstances of credibility rather
than on the personal characters of the witnesses
themselves. If such testimony were on all occa-
sions to be rejected, one of the greatest secu-
rities to the honest part of society would be anni-
hilated— namely, the want of mutual confidence in
those engaged in wicked schemes.

" The next subject which is likely to come
under your observation is misprision of treason,
which consists in the concealment of treason,
when it is within the knowledge of the parties by
whom it might be divulged, and whose duty it
would be to go before the first magistrate, and
make known the evil purposes which they know
to be contemplated.

" The third subject to which your attention
may be directed is the murder of Richard
Smit-hers, and any other otlence touching the
death of that person, who lost his life on the occa-
sion of the attempt made to arrest those persons
now in custody. It a\ ill be material to take into
your consideration the })lacc, the time, and the
circumstances, where, when, and under which,
that attempt to arrest them was made.

" The caution required by law as to the conduct
of officers of justice in apprehending persons
charged with crimes applies only to a dweliing-

M 2

84 CATO-bTRLKT CO:i-iVl\lACX.

house wlicreof the doors are not open, and
that caution is confined to a dwelHng-lioaRe
alone. AU otlier biriidings or places of meet-
ing- may ])e lawfuDy onpiicd and entered for the
aj")prehen!--ion of ]5ersoMS charged with crimes
against tlie kiw, wil'nout any previous notification
mnde. And \vfi.cn tliose officers have dec-ared
the cliaracter in which they a]:>pear, tiie persons
within are ]}ound to yield themselves in the came
manner as if tliey had been met in the fields, or
in the o]jcn street ; and if any of these oiHcers
be killed v>'hcn the arrest wonld have been lawful,
then the jrar'ty by whom the death vvonnd is in-
flicted becomes guilty of the crime of murder.
The arrest of persons under the authority of a
warrant from the magistrates is a lawful arrest.
So also is the arrest by peace-officers, v/itliout a
w^arrant, of persons supposed or reasonably al-
leged to have committed felony. So also is an
arrest by peace-officers, wdthout a warrant, of
persons actually engaged in any breach of the
peace, or of persons assembled and arming, or
otherwise preparing for the immediate perpe-
tration of murder ; because such an assembly and
such a pei'pctration are in tiiemselves criminai,
and the arrest is actually necessary for the ]}re-
vention of the accomplishment of a still more
heinous design. 1 mention this, because the case
likely to be submitted to you may i'all within
these observations. The persons recpiired to sur-
render to the officers of the peace, though they may
not be authorized to airest them, are not warranted
in assaulting tliose oHicers witii deadly weapons,
without warning them to stand oft'; and if they
do, and death ensue, they all subject themselves
to ]nmisliment for the crime of murder — at all
events, they worild be guilty of man-slaughter.

" In sjK^aking of those guilty of murder, you will
bear in mind that all who unite in resistance, and
use words manifesting that determination, arc

equally gnilty vvith limi who inliicts ihe death-
wound.

•' C'cntlcnicn, h;\vin;j paid so much upon the third
head of ytair inquirv. very lit'.Ie reni;nn.s to 1)0
said of ihc fourth. '1 his co!i!pi-ise.> all oHoriCei
committed on tlie person of F. Fit/clarence, and
the others maimed, contrary to the4"]dof the late
king, the title of wi.icii is ^ct forth. You v/ill
therefore see that the jurisdiction does not ex-
tend to all oifences committed against these per-
sons, but only such as are c-.jiUrary to t'le statute
I have just mentioned to you. That statute is
the filty-ei,n:hth chapter of the 4od of his ki:.e
maic-ty; and as no doubt it Iras been broughc
imder the view of nauiy of yon, I need not enter
fully into it. The {)rovisions of this act are —
' That it is a eapntal felony for any i)er.-(.n to
sh;;ut at, or wilfully to present and pinnt lo-j.dcd
lire-arms at, and attempt, ])y drawing- the trigger,
to diseliar/e the .-■■reae at any of h.is in;ije>!v's
suhjects, and alM; vviifully and m,dici(;u-'ly to stidj
or cut, with inteiit to murder, ro!), maim, or dis-
figure anv ( f ids subjects, (u* to do them a:iY
grievous b(jdi!y harm/ There is an e.\|)res.-v Y>vi>-
vision in this statute winch enacis, tiuit these
oftences nvast be conirniited under such circum-
stances as that, if tlie attenq)t succeeded in de-
priving a fellow-creature of life, it would be
murder. Now, if su(,'h an attem})t be made in
the open street, vvliiwi probably is a c;\se th.at
may be brought l)eic;re you, there can be no
(piestion of a malicious design to murder, or to
do some grievous bodilv liarm. As, liowevt r, no
case is likely to coine beiore you lallnig wilhin
tlie excepting" ]iro\i>!on of the -statute, i forbeai^
to trouble v<>u with anv lurl.ii:r (d)ser\ ations,
being well aware, that in this case, as well as in
e\erv other, the besl security for the due dis-
charge of die important trust nposed in y(ai will
be found in your own good sense, your o^wn

86 t'ATO-bTREET CONSPIRACY.

sound discretion, and your own general know-
ledge. If, however, in the progress of your in-
vestigation any unexpected difficulty shall arise,
the Court will be found ready to give you such
further advice as you may require.

" Having detained you thus long, with suck ob-
servations as I have thought necessary, I now
dismiss you to the discharge of that important
duty for the execution of which you are as-
sembled."

At the conclusion of his Lordship's address,
the Jury retired to their room, and proceeded to
examine witnesses upon the indictments which
were preferred before them. The Judges conti-
nued sitting in Court for upwards of an hour,
when the foreman and a few other members of the
Grand Jury returned, and an arrangement was
made that their Lordships should resume their
seats at twelve o'clock, and that the Grand Jury
were to assemble at ten o'clock.

On this occasion, the following witnesses were
in attendance: — The Right Hon. Nicholas Van-
sittart, R. Baker, Esq., R. Biniie, Esq., Captain
Fitzclarence. Monument and Adams (in custody),
Ruthven, Ellis, Westcott, Lee, Brooks, Surman,
Wright, Taunton, Bishop, and Gill (officers) ; Ser-
jeant Legge, John INluddock, Jonathan Curtis,
Joseph Br\sey, Joseph Rivcll, and Joseph Edgar,
(soldiers ;) Joseph Hall, Thomas Droyer, Thomas
Hiden, Joseph Harry Price, Emanuel Francis,
James Pocock, James Munday, Richard Munday,
George Paylock, Mary Rogers. Eleanor Walker,

Soon after twelve o'clock the Judges left the
Court; and at half past twelve the Grand Jury,
having then been a considerable time in deli-
beration, proceeded with the examination of wit-
nesses.

Mr. Bo ucn I LR, one of the solicitors to the Trea-

GRAND JLRY. 87

sury, was the first witness examined: he was only
a few minutes before the Jury,

Robert Ada:\is, the ex-Oxford Blue, and an
accomplice of the conspirators, was next called.
He was brought from the House of Correction,
where he had been in confinement since the final
examination of the conspirators before the Privy-
Council, in the custody of jMr. Adkins, the Go-
vernor, and the principal turnkey. He was three
hours under examination. He appeared perfectly
cool and collected when he came from the Grand
Jury Room. After his examination he was taken
back in custody to the Cold-Bath-fields Prison.

The Right Hon. Nicholas \'axsittart, Chan
cellor of the Exchequer, was the third witness.
The Right Hon. gentleman, together with Cap-
TAix FiTzcLAREXCE, and other witnesses' of the
superior order, was accommodated with a private
room, while waiting the summons of the Grand
Jurv. He was not more than ten minutes under
examination.

Joskph Bakf.r, servant to the Earl of Har-
rowby, and fourteen other witnesses, were then
examined in succession. Amongst them was

JoHX Mo\L'Mi:xT, one of the eight committed
to the Tower on the charge of high treason. He
was brought from the Tower in the custody of two
Yeon:ien of the Guard, and several officers, and
was kept in a private room, attended only by the
Yeomen, with their swords drawn, during the day.
He seemed very uneasy, and continued pacing the
room about the whole time that he remained there.
He a])pcared pale and dejected, and by no means
a willing witness. After his examination, which
lasted nearly an hour, he was conducted back to
the Tower in the same custody.

There were several women among the'persons
examined. They were of respectable appearance.
Two boys were also called.

83 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

Captain Fitzclarence was the last witness called,
and at six o'clock the Grand Jury adjourned uvftil
niiic o'clock on the followino- niornin^'-.

Tuesday the 2Sth of March, the court again
met, pursuant to adjournment, and soon after
twelve o'clock, the Chief-Justices of the King's
Bench and the Common Pleas, and the Attorney
and Solicitor Generals, took t!ieir respective seats.
At half-past two o'clock, the Grand Jury, Jiaving-
iione through the examination of the whole of the
witnesses, entered with true bills for high treason
against Arthur Thistle wood, William Davidson,
James Ings, J. T. Brunt, Richard Tidd, J. W.
Wilson, John Harrison, Richard Bradburn, James
Shaw Strange, James Gilchrist, and Richard
Charles Cooper.

Tlie bills I'or high treason against ^Ibel Hall
and Robert Cicoru-e, were ignored.

The Lord Chief Justice tlien expressed to the
Attorney-General his wish that the [)ersons against
whom true bills had been found might have inti-
mation, without the trouble of coming into courr,
that their attorneys and counsel would have ready
access to them. Tiie Attorney-General promised
that every facility should be given to the commu-
nication with their legal advisers.

On the followiiig day the court assembled a
third time to iiKpilrc into the murder of Smithcrs,
and divers acts of felony alleged to have been
comn/itted by the [■risonors ; accordingly at twelve
o'clock tlie Lord Chief Justice of the King's l^ench
took liis seat in Court. The Solicitor-General at-
tended for the Crown.

The Grand Jury iuimedialcly entered, and de-
livered several bills to the clerk, v/ho read as
follows : —

True bills for muider ag:!;nst Ar(hur Thistle-
wood, .John Thomas Brunt, Richard Tidd, James
VViJliam Wilson, John Harrison and James Shaw
StraufTc.

BILLS rOLNO nV Tin: GRAND JIUV. SQ

No bills for murder against William Davidson,
James Ings, Richard Bradburn, James Gilclirist,
Abel Hall, and liichard Charles Coo})er.

True bills for felony against James Ings, Richard
Tidd, James William Wilson, and Arthur Thistle-
wood.

The Foreman stated, that there was no otiicr
bill before them.

The Solicitor-General said, that it was not in-
tended to prefer any more bills at present.

The Court was then adjourned by direction of
the Lord-Chief Justice till the 13th day of April
then next ensuing, at half-past <J in the morning.

A material omission occurred in the bills of in-
dictment preferred before this Grand Jury, as-
sembled under the Special Commissions, with
regard to Davidson, the man of colour, who, on
the night of the capture of the conspirators, was
standing sentry at the entrance to the place of
meeting, armed with a carbine, and sword of im-
mense length, and in resisting the attempt of the
officers to take him into custody, discharged his
carbine at one of them. In preferring the bills
against the prisoners for the several offences with
which tliey were charged, this circumstance was
overlooked, and it was not recollected, till Wed-
nesday the lOtli of April. An order was conse-
quently given on that evening by Mr. Maulc, the
.solicitor to the Treasury, to Ruthven, Ellis, Gill
(the man sliot at), and other witnesses, to attend
before the ^Middlesex Grand Jury, at Clerkenwell,
(/U the following day, and to take with them the
arms taken from Davidson. Tlicy attended ac-
cordingly, the bill of indictment was preferred,
and a true bill Ibund against AVilliain Davidson,
for feloniously shooting at Gill, v.lth intent to
kill, kc. Only three witnesses were called. The
l)ill was preferred before the Grand Jury sum-
moned to dis])ose of the ordinary Sessions busi-
ness, and not that which had assembled under the
Special Commission.

N

90 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACV.

On Monday the 3d of April, copies of the in-
dictments, with lists of the jurors and of the
witnesses to be produced on the trial, were de-
livered to each of the prisoners in their respective
places of confinement.

The List of the Jurors contained, the names of
227 freeholders of the county of Middlesex, resi-
dent in the different parishes, many of them at a
considerable distance from the metropolis.

The Indictment contained four counts, on each
of which certain overt acts were charged, manifesting
and proving the acts of treason set forth. The fol-
lowing is an abstract of the Indictment.

The King against JrtJiur Jliistlewood, William Davidson,
James Ings, John Thomas Brunts Richard Tidd, Jatnes
William IVilson, John Harrison, Richard Bradhurn, John
Shaw Strange, James Gilchrist, and Charles Cooper.

FIRST COUNT.

That they did compass, imagine, invent, devise, and
intend to deprive and depose our said Lord the King
of and from the style, honour, and kingly name of the
imperial crown of this realm.

First overt act. — That they did assemble, meet, conspire,
and consult to devise, arrange, and mature plans and means
to subvert and destroy the constitution and government of
this realm, as by law established.

Second overt act. — That they did conspire to stir up,
raise, make, and levy insurrection, rebellion, and war against
our said Lord the King within this realm, and to subvert
and destroy the constitution and government of this realm, as
by law established.

Third overt act. — That they did conspire to assassinate,
kill, and murder divers of the Privy-Council of our said
Lord the King, employed in the admmistration.

Fourth overt act. — That they did procure, provide, and
have divers large quantities of arms, in order to assassinate
divers of the Privy-Council.

Fifth overt act. — That they did procure, provide, juid
have arms, with intent therewith to arm themselves and
other false traitors, in order to raise, make, and levy insur-
rection, rebellion, and'yvar.

Sixth overt act. — That they did conspire, eof'-^U and

THE INDICTMENT. D\

agree to seize aiul take possession of divers cannon, witli
intent to arm themselves and other false traitors, in order to
make war againj^t the King, and destroy the constitution.

Scvcitth overt act. — That they did consjiire to set lire to,
hum and destroy divers houses and buildings in and in
the neighbourhooii of London, and divers barracks, and to
provide combustibles and materials for llie purpose.

Eighth overt act. — That they did compose and prepare,
ami cause and procure to be composed and prepared,
divers addresses, prochimations, declarations, and writings,
containing iherein solicitations, and incitements lo the liege
sidjjects of our said Loni the King, to aid and assist in
making and levying insurrection, rebelhon, and war, against
our sail Lord the King, witiiin this realm, and in subverting
and destioying the constitution and government of this
realm, as by law established.

A///M overt act. — That they did compose and prepare,
and cause and procure to be composed and prepared, a
certain paper writing, purporting to be an address to die
liege subjects of our said Lord the King, containing therein
that their tyrants were destroyed, and that the friends of
liberty were called upon to come forward, as the provisional
government wa^ then sitting, with intent to publish the
same, and thereby to solicit and excite the liege subjects of
our said Lord the Kins: to aid and assist in makmg and
levying insurrection, rebellion, and war against the King,
ami in subverting and destroying the constitution and go-
vernment.

Tenth overt act. — That they did assemble themselves, with
arms, with intent to assassinate, kill, and murder divers of
the Privy-Council, and to raise, make, and levy insurrection,
rebellion, and war against our said Lord the King, and to
subvert and destroy the constitution and government of this
realm.

Eleventh overt act. — That they, armed and arrayed in a
warlike manner, did ordain, prepare, levy and make public
war against the Kino-.

SECOND COUNT.

That they did compass, imagine, and intend to move
and excite insurrection, rebellion, and war against the
King, within this realm, and to subvert and alter the
legislature, rule, and government, and to bring and
put the King to death.

N '2

9^2 CATO-STREKT COXSPIRACY.

First overt act. — Same as in tlie first count, with the ad-
dition of " and to deprive and depose our said Lord the
King of and from the style, honour, and kingly name of the
imperial crown of this realm."

Second, third, fourth, Jifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth,
tenth, and ekventh overt acts, same as in the first count.

THIRD COUNT.

lliat they did compass, imagine, and invent to
move, and intend to levy war against the King, in
order by force and constraint to compel him to change
his measures and councils.

First overt act. — That they did assemble, meet, conspire
and consult to devise, arrange, and mature plans and means,
by force and constraint, to compel the King to change his
measures and councils.

Second overt act. — Same as in the first count only leaving
out the conclusion, " and to subvert," &:c.

Third (Did Fourth overt acts. — Same as in the first count.

Fifth and Sixth overt acts. — Same as in the first count,
omitting as before, '' and to subvert," &c.

Seventh overt act. — Same as in the first count.

EightJt^ Ninth, and Tenth overt acts. — Same as in the
eighth, tenth, and eleventh overt acts in the first count,
omitting at the end of the eighth and ninth as before, " and
to subvert," &c.

FOURTH COUNT.

That they did levy and make war against the King,
and endeavour by force and arms, to subvert and de-
stroy the constitution and government of this realm,
and to deprive and depose the King of the crown.

The following is tfie List of Witxesses, con-
taining 1()2 names, and amongst them some of the
most distinguished IMembers of Administration, the
l^olice Magistrates and Officers, the Soldiers employed
in the arrest, many women, boys, ^-c.

Adams, Robert, cordvvainer, an accomplice, in custody
Alderson, Leonard, Antelope-gardens, HolyweU-mount, cord-
vvainer
Al(loii«;, James, Berwick-street, pawnbroker
Avis, Vjcov'^Vj Buw-stieet patrol

LIST or WITNF.iSES. 93

Adklns, William, {^•ovcinor of ihc Iluiue of Correction, Cold-
bath Helds

Balhurst, llii^^ht Honourable Charles

Baker, John, servant to the Earl of Harrowby

Baker, Robert, Esq. Justice of the Peace, Bow-street

Baktr, Gabrii'l, yeoman, warder of the Tower

Baldwin, William 11. shopman to Mr. Colnayhi, printseller,
Cockspur-street

Barrow, William, chair-maker.

Basey, James, soldier, 'id regiment Coldstream guards

Bishop, Daniel, oificer, Bow-street

Bissex, Charles, watchman

Birnie, Richard, Esq., Bow-street office

Brind, Joseph, servant to J. Saunders, St. John-street, Clerken-
well

Brooks, William Charles, Bow-street patrol

Bourchicr, Charles, Esq., assistant solicitor, Treasury

Bulmer, John, warder of the Tower

Bubb, Thomas, watchman

Bamfurd, John, captain and adjutant of the London and West-
minster Light Horse Volunteers

Buller, James, Esq., one of the clerks of his Majesty's most
honourable Privy-Council

Biand, George, turnkey of the House of Correction

Brand, Henry, ditto

Castlcreagh, Viscount

Carr, Thomas, cordwainer

Carter, Robert, yeoman, warder of the Tower

Caylock, George, Cato-street, blacksmith

Champion, Joseph, Bow-street patrol

Chapman, Robert, ditto

Chetwynd, Richard, Viscount, one of the Clerks of liis Majesty's
most honourable Privy-Council

Claddis, Stephen, yeoman, warder of the Tower

Clark, John, ditto

Clark, William, ditto

Clark, Thomas, Great York-mews, Portman-square, tailor

Cooper, William, warder of the tower

Curtis, Jonathan, soldier, 2d coldstream guards

Cy grove, John, ditto

Davy, John, Parker-street, Drury-lane, wheelwright

Davitjs, Jeremiah, warder of the Tower

Davies, H. servant to the Earl of Ailesbury, Grosvenor-scpiare

Davison, Thomas, printer, Duke-street, Wt st Smithiield

Denne, George, yeoman, warder of tlie Tower

Devisme, Gerard, Esq., Bryanstonc-street, merchant

Dobson, Jonathan, Silver-street, Clerkenwell, dealer in old iron

Dobson, Esther, wife of the above

Dwyer, Thomas, Gee's-court, Oxford-street, bricklayer

East, James, warder of the Tower

Qh CATO-STREET COXSPJKACV.

East, Richard, ditto

East, Ilo'jert, White-street, Moorfields, letter-caster

Edwards, George, Ranelagh-place, modeller

Edijar, James, soldier, 2d coldstream guards

Ellis, Jasnes, Bow-street patrol

Farrell, Thomas, Duke-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, green grocer

Fitzclarence, Frederick, ensign, 2d coldstream guards

Flanagan, Patrick, St. Giles's, watchman

Fletcher, William, warder of the Tower

Ford, William, Mount-street, Lambeth, cordwainer

Francis, Emanuel, Southampton-mews, Marylebone, labourer

Fryer, William, warder of the Tower

Gill, Benjamin George, Bow-street patrol

Gillan, Henry, servant to Mr. Whittle, apothecary, Mount-street,

Grosvenor-square
Gould, Mary, Adam's-mews, Grosvenor-square, wife of George

Gould, victualler
Gould, Elizabeth, Stanhope-st. v,ife of Robert Gould, victualler.
Gibbs, William, Bow-street patrol
Harrowby, Dudley, Earl of, Lord President of his IMajesty's

most honourable Privy-Council
Hale, Joseph, apprentice to John Thomas Brunt, boot-closer
Hanson, Edward, sergeant of artillery. Tower
Harknett, John, Clement's-inn, labourer

Harrell, James, Lamb's Chapel-court, Monkwell-st; cordwainer
Hatton, Thomas, warder of the Tower
Hayward, Joseph, Long-alley, Moorfields, cordwainer
Hiden, Thomas, Manchester-mews, milkman
Hoare, Mary, Great Wild-street, spinster
Hobbs, John, White Hart-yard, Brook's-market, victualler
Hobhouse, Henry, Esq., one of his Majesty's Under Secretaries

of State
Howard, George, Fox-court, Grays-inn-lane, cordwainer
Humphrey, William, warder of the Tower
Humphreys, Samuel, Radnor-street, St. Luke's, iron-founder
Inglis, James, soldier, 2d regiment coldstream guards
Jennings, Thomas, New Compton-street, carver and gilder
Isaacs, Jane, Cato-street, spinster
Kcyes, Thomas, Frith-street, Soho, victualler
Keyes, Thomas, the elder, gent, same place
Knowles, Walter, warder of the Tower
Lane, John, gent., gaoler of the Tower
Lavender, Stephen,* officer, Bow-street
Lcc, William, patrol, Bow-street
Lceson, John, warder of the Tower
Legg, William, Serjeant 2d regiment coldstream gunrds
Litchfield IJijali, Clerk of the office of solicitor of tiie treasury
Lawson, Edward, Brown's-lane, Spitalficlds, currier
Lott, James, sergeant 2d regiment coldstream guards
fvlain, Thomas, warder of the Tower

LIST OF WITNESSES. 95

M'Cartliy, Aiinc, Gray's-buildin^j^s, M;incliestcr-square, wife of

JcUiU'S M'Carthy, labourer
Mansfield, John, servant to ensign Fitzrlai'eiice
Maule, Geori^e, Esq. solicitor to the treaMiry
Miles, Thomas, warder of the Tower
Moay, Giles, Franklin, lMaryleI)one, wafcliinan
M(jnument, 'i'homas. Garden-court, Grav's-i'in-lano, rordwaiucr
^Monument. John, an accomplice, j)risoner in the Tower
Mnrris, Tl.tinias, warder of the Tower

Muddock, John, soldier in the 2d regiment coldstrcam guards
Muuday, Richard, Cato-strcet, labourer
I\Iunday, James, same place, labourer, son of the above
]\Iaidnient, Jeremiah, constable. Bow-street
Morison, John Hector, Drury-lane, cutler
Morris, Stephen, turnkey, House of Correction
Nixon, Luke, patrol. Bow-street
Palmerston, Henry John, Viscount, secretary at war
Pargiter, Henry, messenger to the solicitor to the treasury
Pocock, J. Tunbridge-row, Lord's Cricket-ground, whitesmith
Poulson, Jonathan, servant to the Lord Archbishop of York
Powell, John, warder of the Tower
Pratt, Edward, Fox-place, Lord's Cricket-ground, smith
Price, J. \l. Kendal's-mews, Blandford-street, brassworker
Privatt, Mary, Vine-yard, Southwark, char-woman
Phillips, Honrv, Pkasant-row, Lord's Crickt t-^-round, labourer
Raven, Henrv Baldwin, clerk to the solicitor to tlie treasury
Read, William, otHcer, Hatton-garden
Revell, James, soldier, 2d regiment Coldstream guards
Ridsdale, William, waiter, Peele's coffee-house
llochfort, George, Little Park-lane, Regent's-park, watchman
Rogers, Mary, Fox-court, Gray's-uui-lane, chaudler's-shop

keeper
Rogers, George, warder oiHlie Tower
Ruthven, George Thomas Joseph, ofHcer, Bow-street
Sallibanks,William, Holly-row, Lord's Cricket-ground, carpenter
Salmon, William Joseph, Scymour-[)hice, IMarylebone, tailor
Salmon, William, officer. Bow-street
Saxelby, warder of the Tower
Shcppard, Robert, ditto

Shephard, Sarah, Great Wild-street, victualler
Simpson, Edward, corporal-major, 2d regime nt lile-guards
Smart, Thomas, Wood-street, Westminster, waielipiaker
Smith, Augustus, Swan and Horse-shoe public house, Little

Britain, plumber and glazier.
Spooner, Ralph, servant to Armstronc: and Co. Leather-lane
Stafford, John, chief clerk. Bow-street
Strickland, James, corporal 2d regiment cold.'-tream guards
Surman, John, patrol. Bow-street

Sutch, William, John-street, Grosvenor-mews, cordwainer
Smith, John Clark, John-street, West, Edgware-road, viciualler

9G CATG-STREET COXSPIRACr,

Taunton, Samuel H. officer, Bow-street

Taylor, Sarah, Warwick-street, Golden-square, printseller

Thompson, Abraham, warder of the Tower

Tomlin, William, Gray's-inn-laue, victualler

Townshend, John, patrol, Bow-street

Vansittart, Nicholas, (the Ri2:ht Hon.) chtwicellor and undcr-
treasurer of his Majesty's exchequer

Valentine, Benjamin, W^illiair', officer, Marlborough-street

Underwood, ^\'illiam, warder of the Tower

Wales, John, officer, Marlborough-street

Walker, James, Gun-street, Old Artillery-ground, coffee-house
keeper

W^alker, Eleanor, spinster, servant to Henry Rogers, Fox-court,
Gray's Inn-lane

Weedtai, James, Kdgeware-road, oil and colour-man

Welford, John, South-street, Park-lane, clerk to James Deiicw,
auctioneer and appraiser

Westcott, William, patrol. Bow-street

Wood, Robert, Elliot's-row, Lord's Cricket-ground, tinman

Woodward, John, High-street, Islington, cordwainer

Wriglit, John, patrol, Bow-street

Wheeler, Henry, turnkey. House of Correction

Weston, Elizabeth, Cato-street, wife of Edward W^eston, plum-
ber and glazier.

In addition to the copy of the indictment, and l-i.'^ts
of jurors and witnesses, the prisoners received each of
them the following notice from the Solicitor to the
Treasury : —

" The King v. Arthur Tliisdewood, \Vm. Davidson, James
Ings, John Thomas Briuit, Richard Tidd, Jas. Wm.
Wilson, John Harrison, Richard Bradburn, John Sliaw
Strange, James Gilchrist, and Charles Cooper, for high
treason.

" You are hereby recpiired to produce, upon the trial of
this indictmtuf, certain paper writings, written or prepared,
or caused to be written or prej)ared by you, or some or one
of you, on or about tlie 23d day of February last, each of
these purporting to be an address to the people of this
kingdom, stating therein that tluar tyrants were destroyed,
and that the friends of liberty were called on to come for-
ward, as the provisional government was then sitting, or to
the like purport or effect; and al.'?® a certain other wiiling,
written or pie[)ared, or caused to be written or prepared by
you, or sonu> or one of you, purporting to be an address to
the soldiers, soliciting tluMTi to join the friends of liberty, and

UL.AIUVAL lO S i:\Vi. All.. 97

tliut lliey shoulJ liave llicii diicharge,* »^- * ^ '■ and lull ;)a ,'
I'oc liitj, u.'iJ Ivvciity pouucli I'j :aLc liicui to tlioir liuaics, o;'
tu the like puiuoit or ellect; ami aUu all other atidresses and
proclaiiuuions whatsoever, written or prepared, or caused to
be written or prepared, by you, or any of you, between tlie
1st day ot January, and the 24tli day of February last.
" Dated this 8th day of March, 18^20.

''' Geo. Maule, SoUcitor for the Prosecution.

" To the above-named Arthur Thistlewood, S^c, and to
each and every of them."

The reason for the service of the above notice was
as follows : It was supposed that the accoiiipUjces who
had become king's evidence, would, in their examina-
tion as witnesses, state, that such an address as that
referred to in the notice was prepared and in the pus-
session of some of the defendants ; and as the prose-
cutors would not, according to the rules of evidence,
be allowed to give verbal testimony of the contents of
the address without previously giving notice to the de-
fendants to produce the original, the Crown Solicitor
served them all with notice.

On die 13th of April, Mr. Sheriff Rothwell received
a summons from the office of the Secretary of State
for the Home Department, requiring his presence at
Whitehall, to make the necessary arrangements for
the removal of the state prisoners in the Tower to
Newgate. The Sheriff, accompanied by Mr. Under-
Sheriff Turner, immediately proceeded to the Home-
office, where they were introduced to Lord Sidmouth.

The mode of conveying the prisoners having been
decided upon, Lord Sidmouth delivered to Sheriff
Rothwell a writ, empowering him to receive into his
custody, from the Warder of the Tower of London,
the bodies of Arthur Thistlewood, William Davidson,
James In^s, John Tliomas Brunt, Richard Tidd,
James William Wilson, and John Harrison, charged
with high treason. His Lordship at the same time
intimated that a military force would be in attendance,
to guard the prisoners to their place of destination.

In consequence of the plan adopted, on the morn-
o

98 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

1112; of the 14th, as early as half-past six o'clock, Mr.
Sheriff Rothwell, Mr. Under-Shenff Turner, ]\fr.
Under-SheriffPullen, Mr. Brown (gaoler of Newgate,)
Mr. Wontner, (the Cliief City Marshal,) and Mr.
Brown, (the Deputy Marshal,) arrived at the Tower,
and were immediately introduced to the resident
Governor, Major J, H. EIrington, who had been ap-
prized of their coming, and had given directions to the
Warders to have their prisoners in readiness. A
numerous detachment of the Life Guards soon after-
wards arrived at the fortress, and these were followed
by a strong party of Bow-street officers, in seven car-
riages, which were engaged for the occasion.

At seven o'clock, every thing being in readiness,
directions were given to the Warders to bring forth
their ])risoners. The prisoners were then conducted
separately from their respective places of confinement,
between two Warders, into the Court-yard, where
they were delivered to the officers in waiting, by whom
they were handcuffed. While the handcuffs were
being placed on Thistlewood he was greatly agitated,
and trembled exceedingly.

Their names were called over from the writ, and
Mr. Brown, the gaoler of Newgate, was thus enabled
to recognize their persons. They were all perfectly
silent until about to depart, when they expressed their
thanks to the Warder for the humane attention which
they had received.

The whole being now assembled, they were marched,
each between two Bow-street officers, to the Fosse-
gate, beyond which the carriages had been drawn up.
Thistlewood was placed in the first carriage, and was
joined by three police officers. The remaining pri-
soners were each placed in a separate carriage, and
each attended by three Bow-street officers. They
were accompanied by a troop of Life Guards, and pro-
ceeded in a direct course to Newgate prison.

The carriages were flanked on each side by Horse
Guards in single file. Notwithstanding the early
hour of the morning, and the secrecy with which the

REMOVAL TO NKWGATE. ^9

removal was so prudently conducted, as the carriages
issued from the Tower gates, an immense throng had
assembled to ^^ itness their departure.

In the gaol of Newgate, the Marshal's men, and a
large body of constables, were assembled at seven
o'clock, for the purpose of })reserving order ; and
when, at twenty minutes before eight, it was announced
that the prisoners were approaching, they sallied forth
and forFiied a half-moon in front of the felons' door.
In a few seconds afterwards, the Horse Guards turned
the corner of the Old Bailey, and rode up to the
})rison.

Air. Sheriff Rothwell, and the Under-Sheriff', drove
up to the private door of Mr. Brown's house, and
obtained admission to the gaol by that means. The
])risoners alighted at the felons' door, and were received
by tlie chief turnkey. Thistlewood as he went up
the steps, appeared greatlv dejected ; as did Ings, Tidd,
and Brunt. Davidson, Harrison, and Wilson, seem-
ed to maintain their confidence.

The prisoners were ultimately conducted to the
cells which had been previously prepared for their re-
ccpti(jn ; and the whole being thus safely delivered to
the proper authorities, the Horse Guards rode off to
their quarters.

Thistlewood was placed in a small but comfortable
cell by himself, having a fire and other accommoda-
tions. In the day-time an oflicer was constantly pre-
sent with him ; and at night two were kept on guard.

The other six prisoners brought from the Toner
were placed altogether, and had the accommodation
of a large yard on the north side of the ])rison, in which
tlicy were allowed to take the air. With them also
one oflicer in the day-time, and two at night, were
always present.

At three o'clock in die afternoon the four prisoners
confined in the House of Correction, likewise arrived
at Newgate, witliout anv military escort. They were
brought in two carriages, accompanied by five or six
poHce-otliceri. These four pri^-oners were placed in a

100 CATO-STIIKET CONSPIRACY.

separate cell apart from those who had been brought
from the Tower.

With respect to die prisoners arrived from the
House of Correction, the same precautions were
taken, and one guard in the day, and two at night,
were appointed to be conctantly present with them.

In order to prevent any disturbance of a serious na-
ture taking place, a further precaution had been taken.
A detachment of the London Militia arrived in the
course of the afternoon at Newgate, and continued
thereuntil the whole of the trials were concluded.

A committee was formed among the friends and
partizans of the prisoners, for the purpose of raising
subscriptions to support the wives and families of the
unfortuijate men, who, it will be recollected, were all
of tlie lowest and most abject class of society, during
their imprisonment, and for employing a solicitor, re-
taining counsel, and arranging other matters for their
defence on the approaching trial.

The following hand-bill, containing a forcible ap-
peal to the feelings of the public, was put forth by the
families of the misguided men, under the direction of
the committee for the management of their defence.
How far the assertions so confidently expressed in this
paper were borne out by the evidence given on the trial,
on which we are now about to enter, we leave our
readers to determine.

AN APPEAL TO THE BRITISH NATION.

" The Wives and Families of the unfortunate persons
now imprisoned for an alleged conspiracy against the pre-
sent government, venture to intrude their helpless and un-
protected situation on the immediate attention of their coun-
trymen, and to offer this imperfect, but they trust not unsuc-
cessful, appeal.'

" Into the truth or falsehood of the charges, by virtue of
which their husbands and parents are suffering under the
double weight of public obiotjuy and rigorous confinement,
they do not now presume to enter ; they merely put in their
claims in behalf of their unhappy relatives, that they may

DEFENCE OF THE PUISOXEHS. ] 0 1

not be deprived of tlie benefits common to every Briton,
viz., that of being at least not ccHulenmed until legdlhf prov-
C'.l guilty, nor excluded from all possibility of a fair and un-
biajised tiial, before a jury of tlieir peers.

" They beg to n-mind their countrymen that, hitherto,
the unfortunate accused have had no op[)ortunity of proving
tlieir iimocence,'^ or offering any thing in their own defence;
that all is ex-parte statement, con^-istiug of the testimonv of
Boti-stT'Cet Oficers, and the exaggerated reports contained
in the public Journals, the f<..rnier of which in many in-
stances have been interested parties, and have even been
proved to have instigated to the commission of crime, that
they might afterwards betray the delinquents, and obtain the
promised rezcard; and the latter are notoriously guilty of
loading their daily columns with the most scandalous false-
hoods and misrepresentations.

" Inder these impressions, they trust that a generous and
hun)ane Public will suspend their judgment, until the whole
of this unliappy business has undergone the solenm and
final adjudication of a Legal Tribunal, when the guilt or inno-
cence of the respective parties may be rendered manitest to
the world at large. Of this they are naturally tlie moie so-
licitous, because it will be recollected, that when upon a
former occasion, some of the persons who n(nv stand charged
uith the crime of High Treason, were accused and tried for
a similar ofience, it was found, after a patient and impartial
investigation, to the perfect satisfaction both of the Jury
and the British Public, that the alleged Conspiracy was (as
they verily believe the present will also be proved,) nothing
more than the artful invention of hired Spies and secret
yisents, who endeavoured to instigate to tlie perpetration of
crmie, that they themselves might reap an ample harvest
from the blood of their deluded victims, and recommend
themselves to their employers.

*' Waiving for the present, however, all further discussion
upon this painful and distressing subject, it is earnestly
hoped that whatever opinion or prejudice may be enter-
tained respecting the guilt or innocence of the accused, a ge-
nerous l-'ublic will not confound the innocent with the guilty,
or suffer the defenceless and unprotected Wt^nen and Chil-
dren, who have no share or concern in these nulap.clioly
transactions, to perish for want of timely relief, while their
Husbands and Parents are lingering in solitary conllnenunt,
unable to stretch forth a hcljnng hand to save them from im-
pending ruiii : they are at this moment actually destitute of
the means of subsistence, and dying foi' want of food.

102 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY. . ,

" It is hoped tliat this imperfect but faithful statement of
their real situation and circumstances, will induce the be-
nevolent to step forward and contribute their liberal aid, to
rescue those distressed objects from famine and despair.

" Subscriptions will be received by the Printer, 10, Duke
Street, Smithfield ; Mr. Griffin, 10, Middle Row, Holborn,
(opposite Gray's-Inn Lane :) Mr. Walker, Gun Street,
Spitalfields ; and by the Relatives of the accused Persons
The smallest Donations will be thankfully acknowledged.

Mary Brunt, for herself and one child.
Mary Tidd, and eight children.
Amelia Bradburn, and eight children.
Mary Strange, and two children.
Charlotte Preston, and three sisters.
Susan Thistlewood, one child.
Sarah Davidson, and six children.
Caroline Harrison, and three children."

Mr. Harmer was employed by the Committee for
all the prisoners, except Bradburn, having been previ-
ously employed for Bradburn by that man's relations
and friends.

Mr. ADOLPiiusandMr. Curwood, were retained
as counsel for Thistlewood, Brunt, Davidson, Ings,
and Tidd; and Mr. Walford and Mr. Brode-
RiCK, for the remainder of the prisoners.

It may be proper here to state, that during the
whole time the prisoners were in custody, on the awful
charges which we have so minutely detailed, the
greatest attention possible was paid to their personal
comfort and convenience, consistent with their safe cus-
tody ; and indeed the unhappy men themselves felt
and acknowledged the humane attention with which
they had uniformly been treated.

TRIALS

roR

HIGH TREASON.

SESSIONS HOUSE, OLD r.AILKV, SATLUDAY,
APRIL 15, 1,S20.

This being the day to which the Court had been
adjourned for arraigning and receiving the pleas of the
eleven prisoners, against whom liiils of Indictment
for High Treason had been found, the })roceedings
conimenced. At ten o'clock precisely, the Commis-
sioners entered the Court, preceded by Mr. SherilV
Rothwell ; they were, the Lord Chief-Justice Ab-
l)ott, the Lord Chief-Justice Dallas, the Chief l^aron
llichards, and ^L*. Justice Richardson. Tlic Com-
mon Sergeant, who is also in the commission, Mas
likewise present; and Sir ^V'illiam Leighton, Sir R.
Carr Glvnn, Ah". Alderman Christopher Smith, ^!cc.

The Lord Chitf-Juslice Abbott, after the Com-
missioners were all seated, rose, and presented to Mr.
Shelton the indictments which had been found under
the Special Commission, for the j)urpose of having
them tried under the General Session of Oyer and
Terminer, and Gaol Delivery, then liolden in that
Court.

]\Ir. Shelton, on receiving them, immediately gave
directions to Mr. Brown, the gaoler, to bring up his
prisoners.

The prisoners were then brought into court, each
man accompanied by a constable, and placed at the
back ])art of the dock.

Arthur Thistlewood entered first ; he looked pale

104 CATO-STREET COXSPIllACV.

and dejected. He was dressed in a black coat and
velvet collar, light-coloured waistcoat, blue trowsers,
and shoes. None of the prisoners were either hand-
cuffed or bolted. The other men were decently cl^.d,
according to their means, and appeared cleanly and
healthful. The whole being assembled,

Mr. Clarke, the deputy clerk of the arraigns, pro-
ceeded to call over their names from the back of the
bill found for high treason, preparatory to

THE ARRAIGNMENT.

Arthur Tliistleioood first came forward, and was
desired to hold up his hand. Having complied with
this direction, he was placed at the bar. William
Davidson (the man of colour), James Ings, John
Thomas Brunt, and Richard Tidd, were then called,
and went through the same ceremony.

Upon coming to the name of Jame^ Willi amWilson,
Wilson, who remained with the other prisoners, did not
answer. The name was twice repeated, but still he
took no notice. One of the turnkeys then addressed
him personally, and said, " Come forward, Wilson,"
to which he replied, " That is not my name."

Mr. Cu II WOOD now stated to the Court, that he
was Counsel for some of the prisoners, and that it was
intended to put in a plea of misnomer as to this man.

The Lord Chief Justice. — That must be done when
the indictment is read, and when the prisoner is called
on to plead.

The remaining prisoners, John Harrison, Richard
Bradburn, and John Shaw Strange, James Gilchrist,
and Charles Cooper, were then called, and severally
came to the bar, and held up their hands.

The Lord Chief Justice Abbott. — " Prisoners, attend
while the indictment is read ;" and then, addressing
hiraself to Mr. Clarke, " Let their names be called
over again.''

Their names were accordingly called over ; and Mr.
Clarke proceeded to read the indictment for high
treason, for which see page 90.

TRIAL OF nUSL LI..'. >'0L). 1Q3

On coming to the second count,

Mi\ Cunvoud submitted, tliat as the overt act.s in
this count were similar to those in the hrst count, it
Mas scarcely necessary to give the officer of the court
the trouble of reading, or tiie court the fatigue of listen-
ing to it.

The Lord Chief Justice Abbott. — You think it may
be dis}jensed with : very well, This may the more
readily be acquiesced in, as all the prisoners have been
furnished with copies of the indictment. Unless tiie
prisoners themselves desire it, therefore, this count
need not be read. His Lordshij) then addressed him-
self to the prisoners, and asked them whether they
wished any more of this count to be read ? He added,
tliat their counsel thought it unnecessary.

J;zg-.9. — I do not think it is necessary.

Ttie other prisoners all acquiesced in this determina-
tion,

Tiie succeeding counts were then read, when Mr.
Clarke addressed himself to Arthur Thistlewood, and
asked him, whether he was guilty or not guilty of the
treasons and felonies whereof he stood charged ?

Thistltivood. — Not guilty.

Mr. Clarke. — How will you be tried ?

'Jliistleicood. — By God and my country.

The same question, which is the usual form in ar-
raignments, was then \)\xi to l)a\idson, who ;iI>o
})lea(ied Not Guilty, and agreed to be tried in the
same way.

lu'^s, in a firm tone of voice, said, " I am
not guilty. I will be tried by God a.nd (jy the laws
of reason. ihehiwsof reason are the laws ot (icxi.

The Lord CIdcf Justice. — Instiuct him to ])leatl in
the usual way.

Mr. Brown having spok(;n to the pri-onei', he agreed
to the ordinarv terms of the plea, and said he would
be tried by (iod and his countrv.

JohnTiiomas Brunt and Richard Tidd followed the
c\am[)lc of Thi-llcwo(id and Oaxiil^on.

Mr. Clarke next called the name of " James ^V'A-
liam \\'il:on.''

p

]0G (ATO STREET CONSPIRACY-

Wilson came forward, and repeated his declaration,
tliat that was not his name.

The Lord Chief Justice Abbott. — What is your
name ?

JVilso)i. — My name is James Wilson.

Mr. CuRwooD. — We mean to plead in abatement
thtit this nian has been indicted by a wrong name.

The Lord Chief Justice Abbott.-— Is your plea pre-
pared ?

Mr. CuRwooD. — Yes, my Lord.

The Lord Chief Justice Abbott. — Let it be sworn.

The plea was then handed to Wilson, and he was
sworn, in the customary form, to answer all such
questions as the Court should demand of him.

The Lord Chief Justice. — Have you read the con-
tents of that plea, and the form of affidavit subjoined;
and is it true in matter and in substance?

Wilson. — I have, my Lord ; I have signed it ; it is
true.

The Lord Chief Justice. — You swear the contents
of your affidavit are true ?

Wilson. — Yes.

The Lord Chief Justice. — Let the plea be received.

The plea was handed accordingly to Mr. Siiclton.

The Lord Chief Justice. — The plea is received by
the Court. It is for the Attorney General to consider
what he proposes to do with it. For the present, take
that man back.

The prisoner stood back. Harrison, Bradburn,
Strange, Gilchrist, and Cooper, then pleaded Not
Guilty, and pursued the course adopted by the other
prisoners.

Thisdewood, Brunt, Tidd, Wilson, Harrison, and
Strange, were then ariaiiined on a second indictment,
char<Tin<£ them, in various counts, with the wilful
murder of Ricliard Smitl)ers, in the parish of Mary-
lebone, in the county of Middlesex, on the 23(1 of
rel)ruar3^ last.

They all pleaded Not Guilty, with the exception of
Wilson, who again {)leaded the misnomer, anil a plea
^vas ordered to be prepared accord iniil v.

TRIAL Oi- THIS! LI WOOD, 107

Iiigs now attracted the attention of the Court, and
said, " I \\iA\ to bpeak, if I am j)erniittc(i. I wish
to know wlicther we are going to Ijc tried altogether
or separatel}- ' Mv ui.^h is to be tried separately. I
tiiink I shall be able to })ro\e thdt I am innoeent of
the charges alleged against nie.""

'l"he JAird Chief' Justice. — It is probable \our re-
(jiiest mav be attended to; but this is not the proper
lime fdr makinii it. A\'e Avill hear tiiat ni'esenilv.

The nhole of the eleven prisoners were next ar-
raigncti on a third indictment, Avhicli was founded on
the coroner's in(|uisition, by which tliey were all, to-
getherwidi ceitain other per?ons to the jurors unknown,
pronounced guilty of the wilful murder of Jlichard
Smithers. In this indictment the name of M'ilson
was correctly set forth ; he, therefore, together with
the other la-i-oners, pleaded iSot Guilty.

Arthur Thistlewood was then arraigned separately
t)n an indictment, charging him witli shooting at, with
intent to kill, or do some grievous bodily I)arm to,
A\'illiam A\'estcott. one of tiie Bow-street patrol cn-
uaged in arresting the conspirators in Cato-street. He
l>leaded Not Guilty, as did

James Ings and Richartl Tidd to similar indict-
ments preferred against the latter, for shooting at, with
intent to'kill, William Lcgg, scrjeanl in the Coldstream
(iuards; and the former for shooting at William
Charles Brook>, one of the Bow-street patrol.

'IV) each of these indictments a count was added,
allefin(r the intent to be to ob-truct ci-rtiiin officer-^ of
the ])eace in nj)prehciuhng dicm while in the jnirsuit
(jf illegal objects, and conspiring to nujrdor and
a-Svi-.sinate ceitain liege subjects ol' our Lord the
King.

Jaine.-- ^\ il.-on was jHit fo die bar to )rlead to an
indictn](nt against him lor -hi'odir^ai John Muddock,
one ot'the ,-oldiers cngaicd in CaU/->lreei ; but, bemg
again de.^criijed as Jar.Ks W'lHl.-.m ^^ il.-on, h.e p!(^:i(!e(l
his misnomer once nioie, antl a plea was ordered to
be prepaicd accordingly.

!• 'J

j08 CATO-STIIEET C'OXSPIRACr.

The whole of the iudictinents having been gone
through,

The Attorney -General addressed the Commis-
sioners, and said, that as he understood it was the
wish of the prisoners to separate their challenges, he
begged that the prisoners might be apprized that
Arthur Thistle\vood would be tried alone upon the
indictment for high-treason on Monday morning.

The LorcZ Chief Justice desired that the prisoners
might be asked, whether it was their wish to challentre
separately r

The prisoners all expressed their wish to that effect.
Mr. Shelton then addressed Thistlewood, and in-
formed him that he would be put upon his trial for
high-treason on Monday morning, at nine o'clock.
The prisoners were then all taken from the bar,
with the exception of Wilson, who remained to make
affidavits to the pleas which he had tendered.

The Attorney General then adverted to the neces-
sity of assigning Council to the prisoners under the
terms of the statute.

The Ltord Chief Justice desired that the names of
the Council selected by the prisoners might be stated
to the Court.

Mr. llarmer immediately announced, that Mr,
Adolpiius and Mr. Curw^ood were to be the Coun-
sel for the first six prisoners, including Arthur Thistle-
wood; and that IMr.WALFORB and Mr. Broderick
would conduct the defence of tlie remaining five.

The Liord Chief Justice directed that the Council
named should be assigned accordingly.

The additional picas of Viilson were then brought
into court by Mr. Harmer, and the prisoner was
sworn to their contents.

Hie Lord Chief Justice. — Let tlie ])leas be received.
His I.oidshi]) subsequently announced, that the
Attorney- General had filed his replication to the
pleas in question.

Wilson was tlicn taken back to Newgate, and the
whole of the prisoneis wvvc re-conducted to their re-

Tm^MAS 'llii:n:E!^-ss

:Ko:i3::E]:iitr Ajdja,!^^ ,

/../„/,./,, /■/,/,/,.,/,,/ /,,- Th..:^ K.IK- ,-/U/.r,„KJ.r /■--", '-An .' ///.■--

TRIAL OF THLS-TLEWOOD. 109

s[ioctivc places of contincnicnt. Thistlewood shook
liunds most cordially with some of his companions,
M horn he had not previously seen since his connnitment.

TRIAL OF ARTHUR TinSTLE\VOOD,
First Dat, April 17, ]8C0.

The interest excited by this trial was strongly mani-
fested by the assemblage of a croud in front of "the
Sessions-house, as early as seven o'clock. Previous
to this time a numerous body of the civil force had
arrived, and were stationed in such situations as to
control the multitude. For the purpose of prevent-
ing the interruption arising from the })assage of car-
riages and carts through the Old Bailey, rails uerc
erected at the two ends, next Ludgate-hill and Fleet-
lane. These were only opened to admit the carriages
of persons engaged in the business of the Court.

At eight o'clock the arrival of the jurymen who
had been summoned created considerable bustle, 'and
this was greatly increased by the ])ressure of other
persons for admission to the Court. Regulations
were adopted to jirevent the enti'ance of those who
were not provided v.ith tickets. This \\as the more
necessary, as from the limited nature of the Court
but a small portion of the public could obtain accom-
modation. The Jury alone, xvho stood in the body
of the Court, were upwards of two hundred in number.
Certain boxes were devoted to the recej)tion of fe-
males, several of whom were {)resent.

The witnesses for the Crown were divided into two
j)arties. The more respectable were placed in the
Grand Jury room, and those of an humbler class
remained in a contiguous apartment.

Monument, who remained a prisoner in the Towei,
was brought from thence in the care of t\\o Avardcrs,
and Lavender and Bishop. He was placed in a room
by himself, as was Adams, who was brought from
the House of Correction in the custody of Crovernor
Ad kins.

110 CATO-STUEKT i^OKtyi' Hi Ai\ .

The pikes, swords, gun?, pistols, gronadcjj, atnnm-
nitioii, and other articles intended to be produced on
the trial, and which the witnesses broi*<i1it with them,
presented a most formidable appearance.

At half- past eight Thistlewood was conducted from
his cell, in the care of one of the Turnkeys. He
appeared greatly dejected. He was placed in the
apartment usually devoted to those about to be put on
their trials. The other prisoners were not brought
down.

As the time appointed for the sitting of the Com-
niissioners approached, the body of the Court became
greatly crowded ; while the galleries, A\hich are pri-
vate property, and to which admission could only be
obtained by the payment of a guinea, were compara-
tively thin. The boxes assigned to the Coniuiittee
of City Lands and the Grand Jury were completely
filled.

At nine o'clock the Commissioners entered the Court
in the same order as described on Saturday. The
Court was then opened in the usual form.

Mr. Shcltoii immediately proceeded to call over the
names of the Jurymen summoned. As tlicy answered,
they were asked, whether they were freeholders in
the county of Middlesex to the amount often pounds
a-year, or of a freeliold and co[)yhold together of that
auiount ? In the event of their answering in the
negative, they were passed over. Those who did not
answer when called, were called upon their summonses
" to come forth and save their fines of 100 shillinjis
and issi!e." Several were in this predi-cament.

The object of this ceremony was to ascertahi the
number aud eligibility of the Juiymen in attendance,
})re|)aratory to their l)eing subse(juently subject to tlie
challenges of tlie crown olliceis and the prisoners ,
Some oi' the gentlemen ^\CTc excused from attendance
on tlie ground of their health being so infirm as U>
preclude ihcm In^m doing their duty as Jurymen.

While (his form \vas going through, the pri.^;<ner
I hi^tlt'wuod ua,' 1)Ul lo the bar, and attiaelfed (ikineia!

TRIAL or THISTI.EU'OOD. Ill

attention. He vvas dressed us on Saturdav, nnd came
tbrward with apparent linnnevs. lie had in his iiand
a pencil and u ^hcet of })ai)er. lie paid particidar
attention to the na.ines as they v,-ere called over.

The Council tor the Crown i'l ati( iidance were,
the Attorney-Cieneral, the Solicitur-( loueral, Mv.
Bolland, and Mr. Littledale. Tlio.-e for the pri-oiiers
were, Mr. Cuiwood, ^Ir. Adolpluis, Mr. \\'alford,
and Mr. Broderick. Sucli was the pre.-.-ure occa-
.sioned hy the assemhlage of the Jiirv, that they wei<^
constrained to ask permission to (jiiit the Court as
their names were called over. 'Jdiis request was com-
plied with, but tiicy were desired to remain witiiin
hearing.

As the })risoner stood at the bar, and while the
Court was occupied in attending to the list of the
Jurv being called over, a man of shabby appearance
contrived to get to the corner of the dock, and to
place his hat on the board in front, and then, calling
Thistlewood's attention, directed him to take the
contents. Thistlewood immediatelv took from the
hat five oranges, which he })ut in his ])ocket. Mr.
Brown, who was in his box, nitnessed the transaction,
and admonished the obtruder. lie afterwards directed
one of his turnkeys to take the oranges into liis pos-
session. Thistlewood, on neing asked, delivered up
the fruit, and ttiey were carried out of Court to he
examined.

There might seem, in this conduct, on the part
of Mr. Brown, something of harshness ; but when
it is recollected that an orange might be made the
vehicle of conveying to the prisoner ttie means of
personal destruction, or some oilier thing which the
precautions already taken Mere meant to pre\'ent,
it will be seen that he did no more than became the
vigilant execution of his diHy. The oranges, having
been examined, were returned. It was intimated to
Thistlewood that he shouUl be provided ^vith any
thin^ in the wav of rofreshnicnt which he mi<jht
re(iuirc. AVe have already slated, that all commu-

Ili> CATO-STREKT COXSIMRACY

iiication with the prisoner, save under an order from
the Secretary of State, had been most positively
interdicted. The act of the individual in the present
instance, howevei' well-intentioned, ^vas in direct con-
travention of this order.

Subsequent to this transaction, two letters, which
had come by post, were delivered to Mr. Brown.
We believe they were addressed to the prisoners, anfl,
after they had been shewn to him, ^l\\ Brown felt
it his duty to enclose and send them to the Solicitor
of the Treasury.

At twelve o'clock the whole of the jury had been
called over.

Thutkwood then addressed the Court, and said,
" Will your Lordship allow me a chair?"'

The Lord Chief Justice. — Considering the length
of time which your trial is likely to last, the Court
will grant you this indulgence.

A chair was then placed at the front of the dock,
and the prisoner sat down, having hrst thanked the
Court.

THE TRIAL.

]\[r. Shclton then announced to the prisoner, that
the jury were about to be called ; and that, if ho
was dis{)Osed to challcPige any or eitlier of them, he
would do so on their conjing to the box to be sworn,
and before they were s\\'orn.

A considerable nutnber of challenges ihen took
place, both on the })art of the crown antl of the
prisoner ; at length the following jurymen were
impannelled :

Alexander Barclay, Teddington, gent, and grocer.

Thomas (roodchild, North-end, Ilendon, Esq.

Thomas Suffield Aldersev, Lisson-grove, North,
Esq.

James Herbert, Isleworth, carpenter.

John Shooter, North-end. Hendon, gent.

Samuel Granger, Blackwall, lighterman.

George Dickenson, Colt-street, Limehouse, builder.

TRl/Vr. OV THISTLEUOOl). ]l:i

John Edwcird Slieppard, E(ien-Li;rove, Hollow av,

.)(j1iii I'owlcr, Si. Jolin-.slrcci, iron-j)bite-\\orker.

A\ iliiam Ciibbb lloburts, Ro{)ciiiulvci';3-iJel(J, Liiiie-
liouic, cooper.

John Dobiion ielix-place, L^lin^ton, ¥.<q.

M'illiani Cooper, Grove-street, St. l^incras, Ks(].

After which the Lord Chief Justice thus delivered
hiiH-elf: — " As there are several persons chargctl with
the olience of hiifli treason by this indictment, \vhos(^
trials are likelv to be taken one after the other, I
tiiink it necessary, in the furtherance of justice,
strictly to prohibit the })ublication of the proceedings
of this, or any other du}', until the whole of the trials
shall be brought to a conclusion. It is highly necessary
to the purposes of justice that the public mind, or
the jurymen who are hereafter to serve, should not
be influenced by the publication of any of the pro-
ceedings which may take place, until the whole of
those proceedings shall be linished. It ib exj)ected
that all persons, theretore, will attend to this admo-
nition."'

Mr. Shclton then called the attention of the prisoner,
anti read tlie indictment.

Mr. Bolland, as junior Counsel for the Crown,
having shortly opened the indictment, the Attorney-
General, at half-past one, proceeded to address thcjury.

" ^lay it please your Lortl>hi[), and gentlemen of
the jurv ; vou are now assembled to discharge one of
the mo>t important duties that can devolve to the
province of a jury, to decide upon the guilt or
innocence of a party charged w ith the highest otlence
known to the law; and, u[)on such an occa-iun, I
am satisfied it is unnecessary for me to bespeak your
patient attenti(jn to the case before y(;u, still less
even to hint to vou the nc^ccssity ol coming to the
investigation with unbiassed and unprejudiced minds.
You, 1 am sure, w ill (.lischargc; from your recollection
e\erv thinij; vou may ha\e heard or lead re iativi' to

\\% CATO-STREF.T CONSPIRACY.

the chaige which is about to be preferred against the
jirisoner at the bar, contining your attention solely and
exclusively to the evidence which will be adduced in
support of the charge, and forming your conclusion
on that evidence only. Gentlemen, the charge as I
liuve stated to you, is one of the highest nature known
to the law. (Jther offences, generally speaking, how-
ever heinous and however enormous, may in their con-
sequences, except so far as example is concerned, end
with the fate of the perpetrators, or w^ith the indivi-
duals who have been injured ; but, with respect to high
treason, not only in its inception, but still more so if
it is unfortunately completed, it draws after it conse-
quences of the most important kind, aftecting, not
merely individuals, but the whole community against
whom it is directed.

" Gendemen, I shall not trouble you in the obser-
vations I have to make to you, painful as the duty now
imposed upon me is, with any lengthened detail M'ith
regard to the law as it affects the charge imputed to
the prisoner ; because, if I mistake not, that law is
so clear, and if I err not greatly, the facts that wall
be proved to you will establish the case against the
prisoner in so clear and satisfactory a manner, that it
would be an idle affectation in me to cite any autho-
rities before you in support of the charge ; because if
the overt acts, as they are called, or any of them, are
proved to your satisfaction (and I have no doubt but
a considerable number of them will be proved,) no
man who hears me can entertain the slightest doubt
that the offence charged in the indictment will be
cstai)lished in point of law.

" Gentlemen, the charges in this indictment, though
four in number, Mill be all proved to you by the same
evide!ice ; and if the evidence I shall lay before you be
sulTicicnt to establish one of them, it will, I believe,
completely establish the whole. Three of the offences
charged, consist in compassing and imagining the de-
position of the King from his throne ; the death of

TRIAL 01- TIIISTLEWOOD. 115

the King ; and a conspiracv to levy war, in order to
con)[)el him to ehaniie Ins measures lor the iiovern-
ment of the i<ingdom.

" It is hardly necessary for me to state to you, that
in })roof of these charges, it is not essoiiial that the
plans of the parties accused should aim directly and
immediately either at the life or the deposition of his
jMajesty ; because, if they are aimed at that form of
go\ernment which now exists — if intended to luring
about a ciiange in the system of rule now estai)li>hcd,
by means of war, which would naturally tend to eliect
that which must ultimately result either in the removal
of the King from his kingly dignity, or in compelling
him to change his measures in Council, that would
be high treason ; and therefore in these cases it is quite
suliieient to shew that the plans framed were of a de-
scription and nature aiming against the government,
(which will undoubtedly be proved in this case)
although not directly and in the first instance aimed
against the })ersonal safetv or the personal autliority
of the Crov>n. Ji] therefore, the consequences of
the acts of the accused in this case, if those acts liad
been perfected, must inevitably htive led to these
results, thev establish in point of law the treason
charged; and therefore, Gentlemen, not to beuilder
you in the inquirv which you are about to enter upon,
I think it (juite sufticient in the outset to state to you,
that, in which I believe I shall be confirmed by the
highest authority in the law -when this case comes to
be summed u{) to you, rh., that if the overt acts and
facts charged in the indictment as evidencing the in-
tention existing in the minds of the conspirators he
proved to your satisfaction, they do prove the cliarges
laid in this indictment ; and, therefore, it is unneces-
sary to trouble you ^vith any further observations on
the law of the case.

*' Gentlemen, important as the duty is wliich you
are called upon to discharge, and anxious as that tluty
certainlv must be to you, mine, I say, is no less
anxious ; for although in the address I ])urposc

116 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

makinii to yon, I do assure you I mean only to inform
your minds of the nature of the cliarge brought be-
fore vou, and of the evidence by which that charge
^^•ili be substantiated, yet my duty is most [)ainful ;
and I make this address u ith no view of leading your
minds to any conclusion which the evidence itself does
not warrant — with no intention of making any addi-
tion of my own, for, God knows, tlie facts want no
addition to accelerate the inevitable conclusion to which
you must come. It is my duty to state to you, as
counsel for the prosecution, the case against the unfor-
tunate man at tlie bar, as detailed to me in my in-
sti'uctions. jNIy anxiety, therefore, is, I do assure
you most conscientiously, not by any thing I shall
state to you to attempt to lead or direct your minds to
the conclusion which you ought only to draw from the
evidence, but to state to you calmly and fairly the
facts which I believe will be proved, without any at-
tempt at exaggeration on the one hand, or any thing
but a fair and candid narrative on the other, without
any colouring -whatever, because no colouring can
alter the real facts of the case, however high. If I
should err in this, and if in any thing I state to you,
you shall, when you come to make up your minds,
tliink the statement not proved in evidence, or the
observations or inferences which I may have drawn
shall not be fairly borne out by the facts })ro\ ed, von
Avill dismiss them from your minds, and confine your
attention to that alone which is proved. But if you
believe the statement I shall make, if you believe tlie
observations made in that statement aie fair and natu-
ral on the facts, then you will give them the weight
they deserve, and you will sufi'er them to operate so
tar, and no further, as you, in your judgment, think
thev ou^ht.

(itiitlemen, linking said thus mucli, I u-ifl, Avith-
out farlluT ])refa,c(^, call your attention as perspicuously
and as shortly as I can to the facts which Mill bo
pr()\((l ill evidence to suppo)t the cha.rges. Th(> pri-
soner al thr b;ir, Arlliui-1'hi-llewood, must be aliradv

TKIAL OF TIII?^Tr-F.WOOD. 117

knonii to you by name ; but, as I before stated to
you, let nothing that you have known or heard of him
before von came into this court to discharge the !^o-
leinn duty vou are bound to j)crfurm, have the least
effect uj)on tliat verchct vou are to jtronounce. The
prisoner at the bar, hon'cver, I state to vou, as it will
be proved in evidence, had for some time conceived
the wicked and nefarious plan of overturning the go-
vernment so lonn; established in this country ; and it
uill appear to you that several, nay, all of the persons
mentioned in the indictment, were }Kirticipators in the
same design ; some of them, probably, coming into
that purpose and design at a later period than others,
but all of them concurring in the last criminal event
wliicli led to their detection. I shall prove to you by
the most satisfactory evidence, that all of them were
combining in that act, which was to be the commence-
ment of that revolution in the country, which was
meditated. 1 would, however, call your attention to
two jicrsons, whose names you will frequendy hear
in the course of this inquiry, I mean a person of the
natne of James Ings, and a person of the name of
John Thomas Erunt.

"The prisoner at the bar resided, during the time
of the transaction which I am about to relate to vou,
in Stanhope-street, Clare Market. The person named
]jrunt, I believe, was a shoe-maker or boot-closer,
resi(hng at a place which will be frecjuenUv mentioned
in the course of the evidence, Fox-court, (rray's Inn-
lane ; he inhabited two rooms in a hou';e in that court,
I believe the second tluor, and in one of wliicli his
trade was carried on, and in die other his f.unilv,
consisting of himself, his wife, an apprentice of the
name (>f Ilale=, and his son, lived.

" I ^liall not carry your alte:uion very far back in
the narrati\-e of this transaction ; it \\\\\ be suflicient
for m(^ partic'iku-lv in tlie outset, to call vour atten.ticHi
to circuni>tances that took place between th.e cluse of
the moiUh of January and the *i'?d of tk,e folio. \ii;g
month of February. Undoubtedly it will apj^^ar to

118 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

you, that long prior to that period the prisoner at the
bar, the two ])ersons I have mentioned, and several
of the others, whose names are included in this indict-
ment, had consulted and deviseti plans for the pur-
pose of overturning the Government. They had
frequent meetings at a public-liousc, called the
"White Hart, in Brooks' Market, in a room \\hich they
had obtained for tlie purpose of these meetings, be-
hind that public-liousc.

''About the latter end of January, or at the com-
mencement of the month of February, they thought
it prudent to remove their meetings from this [)lace,
and that it would be better that they should be car-
ried on, if possible, in a room in the house where
Brunt lived in Fox-court; and to avoid suspicion,
they thei'cfore had recourse to this contrivance, that
another room in that house, and upon the same floor
on which Brunt resided, should be taken by the
prisoner Ings, who is, I believe, by trade a butcher.
Brunt and Iniis on that occasion hired that room, for
the avowed purpose of a lodging for Ings, but for the
secret and real object of having their meetings there,
where they might devise their plans, and pre})are the
means for carrying the object of their cons[)iracy into
execution ; that being a place of more security and
privacy than the one at which they had previously held
their assemblies.

"At the close of the month of January, or the
beginning of the ujonth of February, you will learn,
that haviug previously prepared means for eifecting
their plans, their meetings at Brunt's room became
more frequent and regular. They had determined —
and, Gentlemen, I here regret, that in an English
Court of .Justice I have to state to you the horrible
])urj)ose which then entered into their minds, and the
way in which they intended to consummate the ne-
farious (^pcraiions they had in view. — It was thought
by Engli^huuni, that the assassination of several, if
not all, of liis ]\hije.^ty's ministers would be a j)ro-
jjcr bte]) towaril;^ carrying into eiiect the revolution

TRIAL OF TIIISTLENVOOD. Ill)

they intended ; and you \\\\\ liiul that tliey meditated
and consnUed on the means l)y which tliat horrible
purpose was to be ccjmpIetecL i'l'^'y entertained
hopes that they might be enabled, at some meeting ot'
his Majesty's ministers, to ctlect all at onee the double
])urpose they liad conceived. Having done that, they
intended at the same moment, or about the same
time, to set tire to various parts of this metro[)ohs —
to endeavour to obtain ])Ossession of the cannon which
were at the Aitillery Ci round, and at the Light llorsc
A^olunteers' Stables in Grays Inn-lane — to create as
much contusion and dismay as they could by these
various operations, and then to establish, what, in
their vain expectations, they had imagined themselves
capable of etfecting — a f)rovisional government, the
seat of which was to be at the Mansion-house. Tliey
liad frequent deliberations on this })lan.

" You will recollect that his late Most Excellent
Majesty died on the 29th of January. At this time
their deliberations were going on uith tlie greatest
activity. During the latter end of that month and
the beginning of February, it was thought that the
meeting of his Majesty's ministers at the King's
funeral Mould be a ))ro})er occasion for carrying their
])lans into elicct. They hatl intimation that upon
that occasion, the greater part of the troops centred
in the metropolis would be renioved to Windsor, to
witness the solemnity ; and they imagined that would
be a ht and proper })eriod to connncnce their opera-
tions ; but, however, they found tliat their schemes
embraced more objects than at that period they had
tlie nieans of etfecting, and upon that night they did
not attempt the j)ur[)Oses they had in view. l)ut,
gentlemen,^ brooding over their neiarious schemes,
many of these men became impatient at die delay
-which from unavoidal)le circumstances, interjiosed
between the ])resent day and that on which thev hojjcd
to accomplish their purposes ; and you will iind that
on the ]f)th of JVbruary, to which 1 shall presently
call your attention, tlie im|)atience Itecame so g.vat

120 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

on the |)art of maiiy of these persons as to be re-
sirainctl no longer. The\' founc] that during this delay,
an opportunity offered at which they could effect the
horrible purpose I have mentioned — the assassination
of all his ]\lajesty's ministers assembled at one and
the same house.

" They got intin^ation on Saturday the 1 6t\i of
Tebruary, that on the Wednesday following the op-
portunity ^\•ou'd occur when they would be able to
effect their purpose, by linding that his Majesty's
ministers would be assembled at the same house.
Upon hearing that such an asseml)lage was to take
place, th.cy determined, at a meeting held for that
purpose, tliat at all events, on the following Wethies-
day some blow should be struck, and that tlie revolu-
tion they had in contemplation should actually take
place.

" Having thus determined, they appointed a meet-
ing on the following day, Saturday, at Brunt's house,
for the purpose of forniing a committee, upon whom,
should devolve the jjlan which was to be effected on
the ensuing Wednesday, at that meeting ; and indeed
at all the meetings, \ou v.ill find tlic prisoner foremost
in every thing. He Mas to be their leader, and he
A\as to be one of the men on whom they placed the
greatest reliance. Yon will find that at tliis meeting
lie is the person who addressed them, and prej)[u-ed
the j)Ians, and in \\hobe plans they placeci the greatest
C(jnhdence.

'' Cientlemen, upon this 19th of February it was,
that 1 iiistle\\(Jod proposed tliat which I have stated
to you. He state(l, that as it (iid not appear from the
intcjiiocnce thev could collect, thnt Ministers were
liKcIy to meet at tlie Ccdjinet-dinnei' soon, they imme-
(h.it( 1\ ascertained tiie sti'englh of their res[)ective
}i;uii(^. iiiKi having so ascertained them, these })arties
•■^iioiild he di\i(lrd into different bodies, upon some of
^^h(J^ll should dcv(;]ve tlie horrihle dutv of destroying
as manvoi lii> .Mi'ic.-L\'^ mim'sters as their means and
c(Mi\r!ri( n(v would ;dl(.)\v ; that upon others should be

TRIAL OF TIIISTI.EWOOD. ICI

iinposed the duty of setting fire to various parts of the
metropolis ; and that others should he assigned other
duties, which were there pointed out by the prisoner.

" This plan, formed at that meeting, was seconded
by Brunt, whose name I have already mentioned ; and
there too it was agreed as I have already stated, that
on the following day, Saturtiay, a meeting should take
place at Brunt's room, in order to appoint a com-
nn'ttee, upon whom should devolve tiie linal airange-
ment of the plan which was to be executed on the fol-
lowing Wednesday.

" On the Sundav the meeting accordiniilv took
place, attended by the prisoner, by Ings, by Harrison,
by \Vilson, and by other persons, whose names are
mentioned in tiiis indictment, and with which I do
not at this moment trouble you, because, as your
attention is confined to the present prisoner, it is un-
necessary to do so. At the same time, in the course of
this investigation, connecting, as we shall (io, all these
jiersons in one common plan and design, the acts and
declarations of each will be most important, because
they will all be answerable for the acts of each in
furtherance of their common purpose. Upon that
occasion tliey met at Ih'unt's, and it was then agieed
that they should meet again on the follow ing morning,
Monday, February 2 1 .

'* After the })lans, I should tell you, on the Sunday
were again re))eated by Thistlewood, they were again
approved by these })ersons. I think the number who
attended on that occasion amounted to fourteen or
iifteen persons. They then agreed that no activity
shouUl be Avanting in the mean lime. I mean to
prepare that to which I shall by-and-l)y, call your
attention. They met again on Monday at Brunt's.
The same plan was again canvassed. No objection
was made, and they then separated for the })urpose
of communicating it to their ditVerent friends in diller-
ent |>arts of the town ; and for llie ])urj)ose of collect-
ing as many [)ers(^ns as they weie enabled to do for
the meeting on the fc^llowing W'cdnt s<Iav. On

K

122 CATO-STRF.ET CONSPIRACV.

Tuesday the 22d of February, a meeting took place
again in the morning, at Brunt's ; and u})on that
occasion, one of the parties communicated to some
nho were present, that he had discovered by the
newspapers, that a cabinet dinner was to be given on
the following day, Wednesday, at my Lord Harrow by 's,
in Grosvenor-S(|uare. Gentlemen, you will be shocked
when you come to hear the evidence detailed, to find
with what exultation this intelligence was received.
Brunt, with an impiety which must shock every
well-regulated mind, exclaimed, * that till then he
disbelieved the existence of a God, but that now he
was satisfied the Almighty was favouring their de-
signs, and that this dinner was appointed by Provi-
dence on the following day to enable them at one
blow to efiect that pur{)Ose which liad been levelled
against each of his Majesty's ministers separately, and
that they might be enabled by that means to ac-
complish at once, the whole destruction they me-
ditated.' The exultation was not confined to him ;
you will find, that Ings and the other persons present
equally rejoiced at the prosi)ect of a speedy termina-
tion of their nefarious purposes, and hoping that on
the following night they should at length attain that
which was so great an object of their desire, and
which they had pursued with the utmost anxiety. The
newspaper was then sent for, to see if the intelligence
was true. On being brought it was inmiediately
determined, that instead of the plan of endeavouring^
to assas>inatc some of his Majesty's ministers at their
respective houses, that njy Lord Ilarrowby's should be
the place of attack; and that there in tlie evening, be-
tueen eight and nine o'clock, after all the guests Mere
assembled, and were lulled into security, that the
attack should l)e made on the house, antl that the
miui.vters sliould be destroyed by the means I shall
state to you.

" 'J hen- activity on this intelligence being received,
was redoubled ; they met again in the evening — their
(hllereiit parlixans wrre requested at once to obtain al!

TIUAL OF THISTLKWOOl). \'23

their firc-iirms, the anununition they had previously
collected, and the different instruments of mischief
M hich you will lind they had prepared for execution,
and that they should be in a state of preparation on
the following evening to etlect this purpose. I should
iiuve stated to you, gentlemen, before I had come to
this part of the narrative, that a })erson of the name
of i'idd, who is also included in this indictment, and
who lived, I believe in the lIo!e-in-the-VV all-alley,
13rooks'-market, was one of the cons[)irators, and
had embarked in these plans. His house was made
the depot of arms and ammunition.

" As the meeting of the consj)irators had been
held at Brunt's, they had a suspicion that their pro-
ceedings might be watched, and they thought it
unsafe that that should be the place of de{)osit, and
therefore Tidd's house had, for some time, been the
dej)ository for the arms and ammunition which had
been collected.

*' As Brunt's house was, as you know, at some
considerable distance fi^om Grosvenor-square, where
tlie commencement of this scene of blood was to
lake place, they thought it would be better to procure
some place of rendezvous nearer to the house of
Lord llarrowby ; and you will lind therefore, though
it was not communicated at that moment to the
dillerent parties, who were to be engaged in the
transaction, that a place was procured at the west end
of tlie town, in Cato-street, which runs into John-
street, and thence to the J'ldgewarc-road. A place
was there procured by Harrison, anodier of the
conspirators, for the purpose of meeting on the fol-
lowing evening, preparatory to their going to Gros-
venor-S(juare.

" Gendemen, it fre(|uently and providentially
happens, as it generally will in conspiracies of this
nature, that some of the parlies, previous to the
perpetration of their wicked designs, feel some com-
punction, which leads to a disclosure of Uicir i)lans,
and a prevention of tlieir intentions; ami yoi; will

R '2

Ii2l< CATO-STUEET CONsPIRACV.

lincl ill evidence, in this case, that upon the Tuesday,
the dav on which tlic intelhgence was received that
the dinner was to he at Lord Harrow by's the next
day, which really was the case, one person of the
name of Hiden, who had these plans communicated
to him, because it was hoped that he would become
a participator in their designs, felt such compunction
as to compel him to communicate to Lord llarrowby
the plan that was designed ; and you will find, that
upon that day, this person took an opportunity of
watcliing Lord Harrowby from his house, on horse-
back, into the park^ and there he generally commu-
nicatctl to him that some mischief was intended
against him, and therefore forewarned him of it.

** It will also appear to you, that at their meeting
on Tuesday some little alarm had been excited in
the minds of some of the party, by a person named
Adams, wlio had been told by the publican at the
White Hart, that their meetings had been suspected,
and that thev were in some hazard of beins; discovered.
He therefore stated to Thistlewood, and others, on
Tuesday, that a communication had been made to
him by the landlord that their meetings at the White
Hart public-house had been observed by some of the
])olice officers, and therefore he expressed his appre-
hensions, that their plans had been discovercci, or
were likely t(; be discovered. This excited in the
minds of those present the greatest agitation. They
were astonished that Adams should have ventured at
such a meeting, consisting of fourteen or fifteen per-
sons, to hint that there was a possibility of their plans
being discovered. The intelligence j)ro(luced the
greatest alarm, and they immediately took into con-
sideration what was best to do.

" Tiie prisoner Brunt, in order to ascertain whether
there Mas any ground for the suspicions entertained by
Adams, proposed that some of the party should be
posted near Lord Harrowby 's house, on Tuesday
evening, and early on the following Wednesday, with
a view ol oceing whether any preparations were made

TRIAL OF TIII8TLEW00D. 125

to receive any intended attack, and thereby to ascer-
tain to their satisfaction whether or not their plans
had been discovered ; and you will find that the sug-
gestion of Brunt was carried into effect, by sending
two or three parties, amongst whom was a man
named Davidson, who will be a very conspicuous
person throughout this transaction, and one of tlie
most active ))artizans, to watch the house. Tliey
sent him and another person about six o'clock that
evening, to watch Lord Harrowby's house, and they
were to be relieved between eight and nine o'clock by
two others of the party, who were to keep three hours'
w atch ; at the end of which time they were to be re-
lieved by others, who, in their turn, would be relieved
by four in the morning. It will be proved to you
that they actually went there on that night, and were
seen by different persons in Grosvenor-square, watch-
ing Lord Harrowljy's house for the purpose mentioned,
and finding, as \vas the case, that there appeared to
be no alarm — that there were no police oilicers, or
troops of any description introduced into Lord Har-
rowby's house, or stationed in the neighbourhood,
they felt quite satisfied that it was a groundless alarm
on tiie part of Adams — that there was no foundation
for suspecting that any of their plans were discovered ;
and ttierefore they proceeded without hesitation or
dread to complete, as far as they could, the purpose
they had in view.

"On tlie Wednesday morning, great preparations
were made. Arms were brought by Brunt in great
abundance to the stable in Cato-street ; they consisted
of sabres, swords, guns, pistols, and other destructive
instruments of offence. But one of the most terrific
iubtruments, and calculated for the most deadly pur-
poses, and which they prepared themselves, was what
was called a hand-grenade. It was composed in this
way — there was a quantity of gunpowder enclosed in
a tin case, three or four inches in circumference,
round which was tied a (juantity of tow, and on the
outbide was a (juantity of iron, in pieces of various

126 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

descriptions, sharp-pointed, and otherwise shaped,
^vhich were fastened together, and tied round with
the same sort of material I have mentioned, so as to
enable the instrument to explode with the greatest
force ; and the object of this machine was stated with-
out disguise to be this : that upon their entrance into
Lord llarrowby's house, it was to be lighted by a
fusee, communicating with the powder, and then
thrown into the room ; and by the explosion, the per-
sons exposed to the mischief might be killed or
wounded, as would naturally be the case. It seenis
they had prepared a great number of these destructive
instruments ; I know not how many.

" They had also prepared what they, in their mode
of expression, called illumination balls, made for the
purpose of setting fire to any buildings which it was
their object and purpose to destroy. They had pre-
I)ared also a large quantity of ball cartridges, the
amount of which will probably surprise you, consider-
ing the apparently feeble means these persons had of
procuring articles of this description. Will it be be-
lieved, that they had prepared between 11 and 1,200
rounds of ball cartridges? They had also prepared
several sorts of cartridges of a different description,
made widi tlanncl bags, and had provided themselves
with a very large quantity of powder. They had
also prepared a great number of pikes, and pike
handles, for the purpose of arming their friends and
associates, who had no other arms. All these pre-
])arations must, obviously, have been the work of a
considerable length of time. Ihey must have been
the Iruits of very great labour, and they were all i)re-
pared and ready on the 123d of February for tncir in-
tended ojierations.

*'()n the morning of the S23d of February, several
ot the conspirators assembled at Brunt's house, where
they \\ ere engaged in completing their hand-grenades,
putting Hints into dieir pistols, loading their arms,
and, in short, making every preparation for the ap-
proaching attack. These facts will be proved to you

TRIAL OF THISTLCWOOD. 12/

by Brunt's apprentice. I have already told you, that
for the purpose of their meeting, and for the conve-
nience of having some place near to Lord Ilarrowby's
house, a stable had been hired by one of the conspi-
rators in Cato-strcet, near the Edgeware-road,

" I know not whether curiosity has led any of you,
as it has done a great many of tlie public, to visit the
place ; but if it has not, I w ill endeavour to describe
the situation, and I think you will agree with me, that
a more appropriate situation for the purpose contem-
plated could hardly be selected. It is an obscure
street, having a very narrow access at either end- I
think at one end there is not any access for carriages,
and at the other there is an archway, and under it
posts, to prevent none but foot-passengers going in or
out. The east end passes into John-street, and the
west end, which is a very narrow cart\vay, runs into
Queen-street, both John-street and Queen-street run-
ning parallel with each other into the Edgeware-road.
The stable is the first building as you enter Cato-street
from John-street on the right-hand side of the \\ay,
and it is nearly opposite the small public-house, called
by the sign of the Horse and Groom. The stable had
been occupied by General ^V'atson, who is abroad,
and rented off him by a person of the name of Firth,
by whom it w-as let to Harrison for this purpose. It
consists below stairs of a stable, with three stalls, and a
small place adjoining, for the reception of a carriage
or cart ; and at the further end of it, nearly opposite
the door, as you enter, is a step-ladder leading up
into the loft over the stable, on the side of w hich are
two small rooms, which are innnediately over the
cart or coach-house.

'' It will be proved to you, that previously to the
meeting on that evening, which was to take place
about seven or eiglit o'clock, preparations had been
made by Harri-on, and several ollicrs of the party in
the stable, for the reception of those who were to be
assembled. In order to avoid the observation of the
neighbourhood, some pieces of canvass had been

128 CATO-STRFET CONSPIRACr.

nailed up against the window of the loft, to prevent
persons from observing on the opposite side of the
stJ-eet wliat might be passing; and it was remarked by
several of the neighbours, that this place was visited
by a great number of persons during the afternoon,
who were carrying something on their backs which the
neighbours did not discover, but which, 1 have no
doubt, Mere the arms and other implements of mis-
chief collected there, and found when the prisoners
were taken. Harrison, who was known to be one of
those persons, was observed going into the stable in
the afternoon ; and on being asked what his purpose
was in going there, he said, he had taken it from
Firth, and was cleaning it out. About six o'clock,
Davidson, the man of colour, was also observed by
some of these persons residing close to the stable,
going in with something on his back, and under his
arm, which they could not discover, and a number of
candles in his hand. You will find that he applied at
one of the houses adjoining the stable, at six o'clock,
to light one of these'candles, Mith which he went into
the stable. A party was to meet at Brunt's lodgings,
in order to proceed from thence to tliis stable. Tidd,
whose name I have already mentioned, and who lived
in the Hole-in-thc-Wall-allcy, was to accompany ano-
ther party. They had not communicated to all the
party, at first, the precise place of meeting, but some
were to meet at the Horse and Groom, and others
were to go to the Edge^ are-road, near John-street,
where some of the conspirators were to shew them
to the place of rendezvous.

" Between seven and eight o'clock Brunt, and
some others from his house, took their departure with
arms, with which they had there provided themselves,
and concealed under their coats, to this stable in
Cato-strect. They met there Thistlewood, Ings,
Wilson, and some others, and here they proceeded
to arm iheinsclves with the weapons provided, and
whicli were afterwards found ; such as guns, pist(^ls,
swords, a great number of hand-grenades, and a con-

TRIAL OF TIIlSTLEWOOn. ] Cfj

siderable number of pike?, rudely fonned, but siifli-
cient for the purpose of doing incredii»!e mischief.
The handles of the pikes were composed of rough ash
sticks of a large size, the ends of which were planed
otf, to admit a ferrule, and at the end was stuck a jiike-
hcad or bayonet ; for articles of both descriptions
were found, screwed on for the purpose of bciu"-
afterwards used.

*' At first their party at Cato-street consisted only
of fourteen or fifteen persons, and some little alarm
was excited, and some little suspicion evidently raised,
in the mind of Thistlewood and some others, at Tidd's
not making his appearance at the appointed time, for
there being some remarks made that their number was
not so lai'ge as was expected, it was stated by Thistle-
wood, and by some others, that there were other per-
sons, who would by-and-by assemble, and that other
parties were gone for different purposes about the me-
tropolis, who were not to accon:ipany them to Loid
IJarrowhy's house in Grosvenor-squarc. In a short
time afterwards, ho\\ever, Tidd made his appeai'ance
with a person named Monument, who will be produced
as a v.itness ; a person who had only been recently in-
duced to partici{)ate in their schemes — who a short
time before had been introduced to Thistlewood, and
who liad an intimation generally with rcs})ect to their
particular views ; but lie had not been admitted to a
knowledge of the whole scope of the plan, until he
arrived at Cato-street, although he might be aware
that their object was to overturn the Governnient in
some way or other. He arrived, however, with Tidd
about seven o'clock, and the party at that time con-
sisted of about twenty-five persons ; two of them were
appointed to remain as sentries below stairs to pre-
vent any interru[)tion. These persons were Davitlson
and Ings, and they remained on guard whilst^ie other
conspirators were above stairs talking over their plans,
and making the final arrangements for proceeding to
Lord Harrowby's house, in Grosvenor-square, which
they proposed to do between seven and eight o'clock.

130 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

Some alarm, as I have already told you, had prevailed
in the party. Some of them expressed a fear that
their own strength was hardly adequate to the object
in view. Upon which Thistlewood and Ings said the
opportunity must not be lost ; that there was enougli
to complete the purpose of destroying his Majesty's
ministers ; that when that was accomplished, the other
consequences would follow; that they should have
parties ready to set fire to diflerent parts of the metro-
polis ; that they would be joined by immense numbers
the moment the first blow was struck, and therefore,
there could be no hesitation in their minds to execute
the intended purpose.

'' Having thus assembled their forces, and pre-
pared themselves for the desperate object of their
enterprise, they began between seven and eight o'clock
to consider Avho should be the party to enter Lord
Harrowby's house to destroy the ministers. The plan
had been, that Thistlewood was to knock at the door,
under the pretence of having a note to deliver to
Lord Harrovvby, and by that means having obtained
access to the hall, they were to compel the servants to
shew them to the room where the ministers were
assembled ; that they were to secure the servants, who,
they naturally believed, would be soon overpowered,
ancl should then immediately make their way into the
room ; and then they should, without discrimination,
without reserve, or without any remorse, destroy
every one of his Majesty's ministers who should be
assembled.

" I have stated to you, gentlemen, already the
exultation and impiety displayed by Brunt on one
occasion, when he contemplated the completion of his
sanguinary purpose ; and I cannot conceal from you
one fact, as it atiects the man named Ings, which will
be disiiiie Jy proved ; he had been a butcher, and he
had armed himself on this occasion not with a blun-
derbuss, a 'y\m, or any thing of that sort, but with a
large butcher's knife, and for the purpose of enabling
him to use it with mow effect he had t^\ istcd round the

TRIAL OF THISTLENVOOD. 131

haiuUe a (juantity of thread, in order tliat ulun
saturated uith the blood of his victims, it iniijht not
slip out of his hand ; and he stated, in languaL'e of the
most i^ross and horrible import, that with this knife he
"vvould himself effect the nmrder and mutilation of
some of the persons who should be assembled. The
cruelty of the designs this man expressed, is bevond
all description. The scenes, in fact, which had dis-
graced another country some }ears back, were to be
acted again on British ground, and the heads of some
of the ministers were to be triumphantly paraded
through the streets, to procure converts to tliis de-
testable cause ! Gentlemen, that very knife was fountl
upon, and taken from, that man ; and I mention that
only as a corroborating fact, if corroboration be
needed. Gentlemen, thank Heaven, that Piovidence
which kindly watches over the acts and tlioughts of
men, mercifully interposed between the conception of
this abominable plot, and its completion, which was all
but ])erfectcd.

" In consequence of the communication made to
Lord Harro\\by, measures were taken in other quartei's
to ])revent the impending danger. It being stated
that these persons had met in Cato-street, for the
purposes I have already mentioned, means weie im-
mediately taken to secure the conspirators, Avhich,
however, were not so effectual as could have been
A\ ished, but certainly so far as to prevent the execution
of their dreadful juu'poscs. In order to remove all
suspicion from the minds of the conspirators, it was
determined by Lord llarrowby, that tlie preparations
for the dinner, which he had intended undoubtedlv for
liis Majesty's ministers, on that occasion, should go
on ; and in order that tliere should be no suspicion in
the house of my Lord Harrowby, his servants ^eie
desired to })rocecd in the necessary airangements for
the dinner, because there is no doubt, that if any
alteration had taken place in the arrangements of the
dav, it would have been communicated to the con-
s])irators ; and if they susjiected that the dinner wns

i J <2 c A r 0 - bT u E i: r c o ns f i ii a c v .

not iritendcd to take place, they would have changed
their measures, and the ends of justice would have
been defeated.

" In consequence, therefore, of the seeming perse-
verance in the d(.^sign of having a cabinet dinner, all
suspicion was removed from the minds of the Cato-
street conspirators, who no doubt expected that they
should be enabled, from the short distance of their
rendezvous, to reach Lord llarrowby's in about ten
minutes or a quarter of an hour, and accomplish their
purpose unmolested — a circumstance not unlikely,
considering that the hour of eiglit was chosen ; con-
sidering that the neighbourhood was the most quiet
and retired in London ; at a time, too, when the in-
habitants of the stjuare and its vicinity were enjployed
in domestic retirement; at that liour when suspicion
must be lulled asleep, and when no apprehensions
could be entertained of personal danger ; for that
hour, and that moment was chosen by the Cato-street
conspirators to issue from the scene of iheir nefarious
deliberations. Precautions, however, had been taken
as 1 have stated to you, in order to prevent the accom-
j)lishment of their designs. A number of Bow-street
ofticers antl pa'a\.], had been directed to go to the
spot, and endeavour to watch their movements, and
counteract their oi)erations, before they took their
departure, and endeavour to secure the Avholc
assemblage.

" A party of the (luards also were to attend in John-
street, to assist tlie police; and, just at the monient
that these persons were about to set out, and when
'Jliistlevvood was calling over those who were to
separate from the rest to execute this horrible plan,
the olficers entered the loft. Upon their entrance
into the stable below, they found two persons there,
armed, who will be proved to be Davidson, for his
eoKair, which is nearly black, was perceived; he had
a double bfjlt. rouuil his waist, in which were i)istols
and a cutlass, und he liad a gun over his shoulder ;
day found him inside the door, and another person,

TIUAL or TllISTLEWOOn.

\vho will be distinctly identified to be Ings. lie was
found lit the bottom of the ladder, with this knife,
with a cuthiss, a sword, and with pistols.

" The otlice^'S, with a resolution and courage which
doeb tiieni high honour, considering the des[)eration
and determination of these characters, immediately
ascended the ladder Avithout securing the persons
l)c]ow. They merely gave directions to those who
followed, to keep them secure, and they thought that
Avould be enough, widiout actually confming tliem.
I'he first man \vho went up was a person of the
name of Ruthven, who will be called to vou : he was
followed by a man named Ellis : after whom came a
man, of whom you have undoubtedly heard l)efore,
named Smithers, wlio met his death bv the hand of
Thisdcwood.

" On Smithers ascending the ladder, either Ings or
David.-on hallooed out'; from below, as a signal for
thei:n to he on their guard above, and upon lluthven
ascendinii the ladder, Thistlewood, w!io was at a
little distance from the landinu-place, and who was
distinctly seen, for there were severid lights in the
place, receded a few ])aces, and the police-officers
announced who tliey were, and demanded a surrender.
Smithers unfortunately pressed forward in the direc-
tion in which Thistlewood had retreated, into one of
the small rooms over the coach-house, when Thistle-
wootl drew back his arm, in which there was a sword,
and made a thrust at the uiifortunate man, Smithers,
who received a wound near his heart, and, with only
time to exclaim, " Oh ! Ciod !"' he fell a lifeless
corp'-e into the arms of P'llis. Kills, seeing this blow
giwn bv Thistlewood, immediately discharged a
pistol at him, whicli missed its aim. (./reat confusion
ibllowed; the lights were stiuck out; the officers
were forced do\\n the ladder, whicli was so prccij)i-
tous, being almost perpendicular, that they fell, and
many of the party f(;llo\ved them.

■' Thistlewood, among the rest, came down the
ladder ; and; not satislieil with the blood of Oiie person,

]34 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

he shot at another of the officers as he caine down
the Jaddcr, and pressed througli the stable, cutting at
all who attempted to oppose him, and made his
escape out into John-street, the military not having
yet arrived ; and he was no more seen at that time,
except with a sword in his hand in the Edgware-road.
]]y tile other persons an equally desperate resistance
was made.

" Conscious of the evil purpose for which tliey
had assembled, they waited not to know on what
charge they were about to be apprehended ; but in-
stantly made a most desperate resistance. Ings,
Davidson, and Wilson, were particularly dcs})erate,
each, I believe, firing at some of the officers or
military, who had only come to the ground on hearing
the re{)ort of the hre-arms, not having been ])reviously
directed to the exact spot.

" Notwithstanding the resistance, how ever, which
they so desperately made, and in which resistance
lliistlewood, Tidd, Davidson, Ings, and Wilson
took a most active part, by attacking the officers and
soldiers, the whole of the conspirators were, at length,
fortunately overcome, and eventually eleven of them
secured. Not on that night, however, for three
out of the eleven for the time escaped, namely This-
tlewood, Brunt, and Harrison. The officers, how-
ever, not onlv secured on that nio;ht the ei<j;ht men,
but various articles of lire-arms, numerous weapons,
and certain combustibles.

" I'he prisoner Bruiit, gentlemen, one of those
Avho escaped, returned that night to his own house.
He was accompanied by another man, and his own
boots were in such a state, as not to fail to excite the
attention of some ])ersons in the house. His boy (an
aj)()rentice, named Hale) soon learned, from the con-
versation which passed between his master and the
man, that they had just escaped from Cato-street, and
Jirunt exj-iressed a belief that liis person had not been
disc(nered. 'J lie jnisoner, gentlemen, remained lioujc
the w hole of the ni^ht, but early on the niorning fol-

TRIAL OF THISTLEWOOD, 135

lowiuii, lie called to him the apprentice boy I iuive
named, and asked him as to his kno^vledge of some
street in the Borough, uhere he wanted to convey
some baskets. These were all earet'ully packed uj),
and it is a remarkable circumstance, which will be
spoken to in evidence, that so anxious w as he ibr die
concealment of its contents, that one of the baskets
was secured with the apron of his wife ! Gentlemen,
the i)risoner now thought all secure ; but he had
scaicely etiected his plan, and retired into another
room, previous to despatching the baskets, ^vllen the
orticers entered the house and seized him. This, you
may su{)pose, was not a little surprising to Brunt ; for,
most niaterial would it have been to him to have the
baskets removed. Upon searching these, gentlemen,
were found a number of hand-grenades, fire-balls,
and other articles of destruction. Upon their disco-
very, Brunt for some time afiected ignorance of the
thing, but he was told it was of no use.

" The prisoner at the bar, Thistlewood, who also
escaped on the ni^ht of the CJd, retired not to his
own house, however, but to an obscure lodging
ill V/hite-street, where he thought to conceal him-
self. Information, however, soon reached the police-
olHce, Bow-street, of his retreat, and early the next
morning, a strong party of officers, headed by Bishop,
were sent to apprehend him. Upon their arrival at
the |jlace, every precaution was, of course, taken to
prevent an alai'iii ; while the officers, at the same time,
knowing the desj)erate sort of character they had to
contend with, were equally guarded to resist any
attack which might be made upon them. They pro-
ceeded to search the house, beginning with the top
and descenthng to the lower rooms. They then ob-
served a small room on the ground-tloor, the door of
whicli was locked, and Bisliop demanded the key,
which he procured; and knowing from what had taken
place, the (k^ermiiud desperation of this man, he
ojiened the door as softly as he could, and perceived

136 CATO-STREF.T CONSPIRACY.

by some slight light that came through two or
three holes in the window-shutters, the person of
Thistlewood lying on a turn-down bed. The moment
he opened the door, Thistlewood put his head up, and
Bishop immediately discovered him, and he imme-
diately threw himself upon him, to prevent mischief.
He then said, lie should make no resistance, and on
being taken out of bed, it was discovered that he had
been laying in his breeches and stockings. Gentle-
men, by these means the prisoner at the I)ar was
taken ; and thus ends, in point of fact, the evidence
which will be adduced before you.

" Gentlemen, I have now to state to you, at the
suggestion of a learned friend, a fact which I had
almost forgotten. It is niaterial for you to know,
tliat on the 22d February, the conspirators held a
consultation at the house of Brunt. Every thing
was, on this occasion considered as finally arranged.
I have already told you, it was their })lan to
set fire to various parts of the metropolis, and
among other places, the barracks in King-street
were fixed upon, not only because troops would be
there, but because Harrison, who bad been, [ am
sorry to say, in his I\Iajcsty's service, was acquainted
with the situation of the building, and pointed out
the means by which it could he easily fired ; and
thus the soldiers, who would have retired to rest,
would be unable to accoutre themselves or their horses.
But this is not all, gentlemen ; for at this very con-
sultation, Thistlewood sat down and wrote two
proclamations, in anticipation of the success of his
diabolical schemes, and which proclamations were
upon that success to be issued, l^utyou will observe,
gentlemen, it was not considered by tlie prisoner duly
official to write these pioclamations on paper, and
Hale (the apprentice of Ihunt) was sent in search
of ])aichi»]ent. This being procured, he wrote an
address to the following effect, intended for the jxjople
generally : —

rniAi, oj ifusi J I- M ouD. 157

PROCLAMATION.

" YoiK TviiVNTS ARE D K.^TP.OVED !

" T/ic friittd::; cf LtU'iii/ arc dt.-ln'd to corie fordarJ and
support the rroviaiouai GuiCDtintiit, nhich is tiuu silting."

*' So that, Gentlemen, if anv donbt could be enter-
tained of these men's ulterior designs not beinii; con-
fined to the destruction of his Majesty's Ministers,
this proclaniation, written by Thistlewood, would put
it beyond all doubt. He wrote two or three of the sc.
He read them aloud to the party assembled, and told
them that they were to be stuck up where tiie houses
were on fire, that tlie peo[)Ie miglit see it. Afteiwards
he sat down, and endeavoured to compose another
proclamation, which was to be issued to tlic soldiers,
and that contained an offer to tiie soldiers, callinii on
them to join the friends of Libertv ; prouii.-ing them
twenty pounds each to carry t!iem home, and tiiat they
should be rewarded with full pay and a pension for
life ! ! Thc-e proclamations, Gentlemen, were read
aloud by Thisllewood to the conspirators, and they
were unanimously approved, Someofthem, I should
tell you, were to be posted as convenient as possible
to every barrack or public place which might be set fire
to or destroyed. ThisUewood himself carried the
proclamations from the house of Brant to Cato-stieet.

" And now, Genilemcn, having stated these facts,
let mc pause to ask you, \vhether, it 1 prcjve them in
evidence, vcju can come to any otlier conclu-ion than
that the prisoner who stands bc!bi-e you, is guilty ?
What answer, I will ask, can be given lo such evi-
dence as thi^, and if no an-^uer Ciin 1)0 given in evi-
dence, what answer can bo given in reason ? It may
be urgetl, in a general sense, [\\ d sucii schemes and
sucli plans as the facts I ha\e related to vou disclose,
ounht scarcely to be crcchtcd in a Gcurr <;t Ju-tice.
""Jliis mav be inf< rred from llie ciru.,),-laice of iic.tUcl
men with Jicsiled pa--i<)!is c..ncei\lng and propo.-ing
tlrj adoption cf plans, wild ar.d vi-iunary, awd in fact
wholly impracticable. In this case, however, such a

T

138 CATO-STHKKT COXSPIllACY.

principle did not exist ; for here were long laid regular
plans, extensive schemes, and the most abundant pre-
parations, to effect a wicked purpose. And will not
desperate and designing men, infuriated by their pas-
sions either influence others to the accomplishment of
such plans, or be Avorkcd upon by them themselves.
Look then, Gentlemen, to the facts of the case your-
selves. You will view them as calm and sober men,
and in doing so, you will perceive such a system and
such an adroitness towards the execution of that system,
that their object requires but little solution.

" Gentlem.en, it is not your duty to consider whether
the schemes in c|uestion were wild and visionary, but
whether they had for their object an illegal or wicked
purpose ; and if illegal, and that towards the execu-
tion of their plans they took but one step, they have
then done that \\hich renders them amenable to the
offended laws of their country. If these arguments,
Gentlemen, won't avail, what then may not be urged
for the prisoner ? But you will also be told that ac-
complices are not to be believed on their oath in a
Court of Justice. I contend, however, that they
should ; and if it was not permitted to accomplices
in guilt to give evidence for the purposes of justice,
then the blackest and foulest crinies would be daily
committed, and go un[)unislied. But it is not the
law of England, alone, to hear the evidence of an
accomplice. It is the law of reason also, and has
been the law of all ages and nations. I admit that
you should v.atch Avilh the greatest caution and
jealousy the testimony of an accomplice. You should
weigh his story well, and see whether it be con-
firmed by the more inditferent witnesses. Not con-
firmed in every part, for then his evidence would not
be required at all : but in certain collateral parts
which may be found to correspond with the other
testimony. If therefoie. Gentlemen, an accomplice
is produced bel'oie you, and you believe a part of what
he relates, you are bound in a great measure to be-
lieve that tlie whole of what he tells vou is true.

'■ No man, or ocl ot iiiiii, who liad ever C':»nct:i\(jJ
such plans as I have laid bcfure ycju, could have so
conceived them without an intenlion of [pursuing them.
'1 he plans, therefore, at least for sonie time, could be
known only to ihemscKes and to their Gc^d. I say
then that the evidence of an accomplice is not only
highly necessarv, but even laudable ; for if vou resist
such a principle, the more dark uill be the criuie,
the more secret the scheme, and the ni(jre wicked the
purj)o.se. As I told you before, (ienllemci], it has
louiji; been tlio law of England to receive the evidetice
of an accomplice, and e\en in cases of n;urder, it has
proved uiost salutary in the admiui.--trutiori of jus-
lice.

" I will call a witness before you, Gentlemen, named
Adams, an accom{;lice, as you will liiui, and he bcin-^
in the full coniidcnce of the consjjirators, \', ill prove
to vou the nature of all their proceedings frer.n tin;e
to time, and of t!:c dificrent plans and eouimunications
which were hiatle !:et".\ecn him and them. I will call
another man to you, Gentlemen, who was the first to
make known the diabolical plans of the con.-.{)irators,
to ujy Lord ILurowby ; but this man ^vas not much
known to them, nor thd he therefore rank hi'.di in
their councils.

" This man in fact, whcn'he heard the dreadtlil plan
related of visitinn; his Majesty's ujinisters witii destruc-
tion and deatli, his heart sliuddered, his conscience
smote him, and he could hold out no longer. Sonie
men, you kncnv, lja\e very stronij; minds, and are nut
to be deterred from the most Avicked pairpose. Others
are less lirm, and more easily shaken in the accom-
plishment of a cruel or inimoral dcsiiin. 'J'he wi!i:e.>s
whom I shall produce to you, GeUitlemen, antl wliosc
name is liiden, is one of this desciiption.

'' A tliird w itness I sliall produce to you, is an indivi-
dual w ho was rather n)ore in confidence with the con-
spiratois. His name is Dwyer, and you will find that
Thistlewood and Davidson applied to him for his ad-

T 2

liO <:AI()-S I It Kt- I ( O.X^PIKACY.

vice and assistance towards the execution of their mur-
derous purpose. You v\ ill even fiiid that they sohcited
his aid on the very day in wliich that purpose was to
be put into execution. This witness, however, horror-
struck at the intended massacre, and fcehng it to be
his bounden duty, ran ahnost instantly and communi-
cated tlie fact toothers. He first communicated it to
his wife, and next to an officer in the army, named
James, with a view that it might be immediately con-
veyed to his Majesty's ministers. This, under the
special order of Providence, was done.

" And now let me again ask you, Gendemen, is this
testimony to be rejected ? Surely it never can by en-
lightened men such as you are. But this even does
not furnish my case for the prosecution ; for I assure
you it does not rest upon the testimony of Adams,
Hiden, and Dwyer ; but there are facts in this case
which, I fear, the prisoner \\\\\ not be able to answer.
Why, I would ask, were these men assembled in Cato-
street, and why at night ? There were none of them
related to each other, yet they were all armed with
deadly weapons, and found in close deliberation in an
obscure stable. There were also found there a quan-
tity of destructive grenades and hre-balls, together
with a large portion of ammunition. But this is not
all. At the houses of two others of the conspirators,
namely, Brunt and Tidd, there were found similar arti-
cles of destruction, })articularly ammunition. The
weight found of the latter, gentlemen, amounted to
between eleven and twelve hundred pounds ; and I
would ask, in the name of God, what object could
these men have had in the possession of such a quan-
tity of amniunition ? Surely it could not even be for an
individual nmrder ! No, gentlemen, it was the de-
struction of his Majesty's ministers in the first place,
the burning and levelling of public barracks and
edifices inttie next, and finally, the establisliment of a
revolution, and the appointment o( a Provisional Go
vrrnment.

IHIAI. UF THlil'LEWOOD. 141

" These men, Gentlemen, could never have been
nnfrienclly towards ministers as individuals. It must
have been a hatred of thciii in the eharacter ot" their
oiiice alone, and their tlesi^n was more j)articuiarlv
levelled at Loixl ITarrowljv, hceau^e his Lordship was
President of the Councih Can you duuijt, that after
this dreadful blow was made, and it had succeeded,
that it was the intention of these conspirators to have
estahli>hed a j)rovisional government, and thus spread
anarchy and confusion around. In fact, that was the
eventual blow nieant to be carried into execution. I
say, therefore, that even if the learned counsel
for the jirisonei'S were to contend most successfully
again-t the evidence of the accom[)lices, the facts
I shall produce to you by other te^timony, will an-
swer the pur[;oses of tliis just and necessary })rosecu-
tion.

" \Vhat was the comluct of the prisoners when they
were discovered in Cato-street ? I want not, Gentle-
nien, by a repetition of this term, to int^ame vour
minds : but it will be extremely important for vou to
remember, that when the officers entered the loft
there, and said, ' ue are officers,' they submitted not
to their authority, but resi^ted them even in the most
ferocious manner, and one officer, as you have before
heard, unfortunately lost his life. Tiie prisoner at the
bar, however, is not under trial for that offence, nor
should the fatal circumstance operate in the present
case against him. But I must again ask you, what
became of tlie prisoner on the 'J3d, the intended night
of blood and slaughter ? ^Vhy he tiies from the despe-
rate scene, not to his own home, as you have already
been told, but to an obscure })lace of concealment.
These, then, Gendemen, are tlie facts of this momen-
tous case ; and once more I ask you, what possible
conclusion can you draw from such facts, if thev be
supported in evidence }

" Gentlemen, I repeat it. that this is a momentous

J4*2 CATO-.STRRET COXSPIRACY.

and important case, and if these [)Iots of the conspira-
tors, and of the prisoner in particular, be proved to
have existed — if the means had been used which 1
have described to vou for effectino; the nefarious and
diabohcal plans they had formed, then I call upon you,
in the name of justice, to give that verdict which will
best satisfy the laws of your country, and tend to pro-
tect the lives of your fellow-creatures. Commisera-
tion (if I may use the term) towards a prisoner, I
never should witlihold ; and God forbid. Gentlemen,
that you should not give to the man at the bar the ad-
vantage of every, even the slightest, circumstance of
doubt which may arise in his favour. If these doubts
also should predominate, it will be your duty to acquit
the prisoner ; but if, on the other hand, the facts which
I have laid before you be substantiated, and you feel
in your consciences that the charge is made out, it will
then become your painful but boundcn duty to convict
him. Should these facts, I say, for the last time, be
brought home to the prisoner, it will then be your
duty, as men, as citizens, and as fathers — as men de-
sirous of maintaining tlie laws, and of acting under the
solemn obligation of your oaths, to pronounce him
guilty."

The learned gentleman's speech occupied the atten-
tion of the Jury for nearly two hours.

Before the first witness for the })rosecution was put
into the box, all the prisoners named in the indict-
ment were brought up, with the view, we suppose, of
having an opportunity of hearing the evidence, it being
principally the same which is to be adduced against
most of them. They entered the Court with much
apparent indifference.

Davidson and Ings were particularly remarked for
the calm indifference with which they surveyed the
Bench and the spectators around them.

During the examination of Adams, some of the
prisoners whispered together. Thistlewood through-
out preserved the most perfect composure.

Till A I. OF I iii<!Li:\vou]). 14:3

The first witness called was

RonEiM' Adams, examined by the Solicitor-
General. — I live at No. 4, in llole-in-the-Wall-
passai^e, Brooks'-markct. I am a shoemaker.
I was in the Royal Regiment ot" Horse (iuards.
It is 18 years last Christmas since I leit them. 1
knew Brunt at Cambray, in France, he went then
])y the name of Thomas ?ilorton, it is IS years
ag-o since I first knew him. I know Thistlewood.
I knew him first on the IGth ot" January last. He
then lived in Stanhope-street, Clare-market. I
was introduced to him by Brunt and Ings. I saw
him at his own place. We had some conver-
sation together.

Here Mr. Adolphus objected to the witness
mentioning any thing of the conversation which
passed on that occasion. The crime against the
prisoner was charged in the reign of his present
jMajesty, and against his crown and dignity, and
no act of the prisoners in the late reign ought to
be adduced.

Lord Chief-Justice Abbot said, the Court
might hear of the commencement of the transac-
tion, as connected with what had occurred in the
present reign.

The examination of the witness was con-
tinued.

Wlien I went in, Brunt said to Thistlewood,
This is the man I was speaking to you about.
Thistlewood said, " You were once in the Lil'e-
(iuards?" I said, "No, I was not, I originally
l)elongcd to the Blues.'' Thistlewood said, ''You
are a good swordsman ? ' I said, " 1 could use a
sword to defend myself; but 1 could not use it
very expert, as I had not used any arms for a long
time.'" Thistlewood said, there was no one who
was worth 10/. who was worth any thing for the
good of his country. As to the sliopkeepers of
London, they were all a set of aristocrats toge-
ther, and were all working mider the same system

144 CA'l'O-STREliT CONSPIRACY.

of government. He should glory to see the day
that all the shops were shut up, and well plun-
dered. He then alluded to Mr. Hunt, and said,

he (Hunt) was a d d coward, and were he

(Thistlewood) to go to Whitehall, he was sure he
would find his (Hunt's) name there, as a spy to
Qfovernment. He then turned the conversation to
Cobbett, and said, he was equally the same as
Hunt, and for all his writings, he had no doubt he
was also a spy. This ended the conversation
then. I was afterwards confined for debt in
Whitecross-street Prison. The next interview I
had with Thistlewood was on the 16th, at the
"White Hart public-house. Tt was in a room in
the back yard. Thistlewood was present, and
Ings, Brunt, and Hall, and before they broke up,
Tidd. On the 1 7th I went to prison, and remained
fourteen days there,. I came out on Sunday, the
day after the death of the King. I saw Thistle-
wood on the Monday evening following. I saw
him in the same floor in the house where Brunt
lived, in a back room. This was in Fox-court,
Gray's Inn-lane. There were Brunt, Ings, Hall,
and Davidson, present. There was nothing parti-
cular took place that night. To the best of ray
recollection, I met them next on the Wednesday,
(by them he meant Thistlewood, Brunt, Davidson,
Harrison, and Ings,) 1 had a conversLition —

Mr. Curwood here objected to the witness
speaking to wdiat then occurred, as no over-act
was set forth in the indictment on that day. It
merely referred to a meeting on the 16th, and at
divers other times.

Lord Chief-Justice Abbott observed, that the
present mode was the invariable form of such in-
dictments, and no objection was ever made to it.
If all the particulars of overt-acts were set forth,
it would occasion a great prolixity. — The ob-
jection was over-ruled.

Witness continued — I went into the room and

TRIAL OF Tiiisri.r.wooD. 145

saw a number of pike staves, and Tiiistlewood
wanted to have them ferruled. Thistlewood then
asked why Bradburn (the ])risoner) was not pre-
sent, and he added that Bradburn was intrusted
with money to purchase ferrules, and was not sa-
tisfied lest he should not buy them. The staves
were green, and seemed as if they had just come
from the country. Thistlewood said he would
not give a damn for a man who would spend the
money in such a way. 1 do not recollect anv
thing further then. The meetings were held
twice a-day from thence to the 23d of February.
The room was hired bv Brunt for Ings ; Brunt
said so, I remember one circumstance that oc-
curred : one evening, about ten days before the
Cato-street business, I went in and saw Harrison,
Thistlewood, and Brunt. Harrison said, he had
been speaking to one of the horse-guards, and he
told him, that the whole of them Mould be down
at Windsor at the King's funeral ; and Harrison
said, this would be a good o))})orlunity to do some-
thing that night (the night of the i'uneral.) This-
tlewood said it was a good place, and added,
that if they could get the two pieces of cannon
in Gray's Inn-lane, and the six pieces in the
Artillery-ground, they could so help themselves
as to have possession of London before morning;
and he said, that when the news should reach
Windsor, the soldiers would be so tired as not to
be able, when they came back to London, to do
any thuig ; but that by activity some might go to
Hyde-j)ark, and prevent any person or messenger
from going to Windsor. He also said, that they
should go over the water and take the telegraph,
to prevent any communication with Woolwich,

He then said that they should i'orm a Pro-
visional Government, and send to the sea-ports,
to prevent any gentlemen from leaving Enghmd
without passports. He particularly mentioned
to send to Dover, Brighton, Margate, and Rams-

r

146 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACr.

gate, and he most particularly mentioned Brighton
— not that he thought the .new King would be
there, or at the funeral. He said the present
family had inherited the throne long enough, and
it was no use for the present King to think of
being crowned. Brunt and Ings came in after
this, and Thistlewood mentioned to them what
passed ; but they said that nothing would satisfy
them but their plan of assassination. They had
talked at a former meeting of this plan of assas-
sination. Two or three of them had drawn out a
plan of assassinating his Majesty's Ministers at
the first public dinner they had. They talked of
assassination at every one of their meetings. I
could not say there were pikes in the room be-
fore this. I met them on Saturday, the l9th of
February, at eleven or twelve in the forenoon.
I saw Thistlewood, Davidson, Brunt, Harrison,
Ings, and Hall. They were all set round the
fire, and seemed in a conversation betwixt them-
selves. They all got up and turned round, and
said, *' It is agreed, if nothing turns out before
next Wednesday night, next Wednesday we will
go to work.'* It was said they were all sworn
that they would not wait any longer.

Thistlewood proposed they should meet the
following morning at nine, to draw out a plan
to go by. Thistlewood said to Brunt, " You had
better go round this afternoon and mention it, in
order to have the committee to-morrow." Brunt
said, he did not think he should be able to go, as
he had some work to do, but he would go on the
next morning, and perhaps he might see some of
them : it was not necessary to bring a great
many. Brunt appeared to be leaving the room
then, and Thistlewood called to him, and said —
" O, Brunt, it will be highly necessary for those
that come to-morrow morning to bring fire-arms
with them, in case any officers should come up."
On which Brunt said, " D — n my eyes, if fiiv

TRIAL OF TllISTJXWOOD. 147

officer should come in here, the time is so near
now, I would run him through the body. I
would murder him here sooner than we should
be discovered."

On the next morning I went there about eleven
o'clock. It was a little dark in my eyes when I
went in after the snow. There were Thistlewood,
Brunt, Harrison, Cooke, Bradburn, Tidd, Ed-
wards, and Wilson, myself, and another. William
Cooke, on looking round the room, said, ** There
are twelve in the room, and I think it enough to
form a committee." Thistlewood proposed that
Tidd should take the chair. Tidd took the chair,
and. sat with a pike in his hand. Thistlewood
was on his right and ► Brunt on his left. This-
tlewood said, " Gentlemen, you all know what
we are met for ;" and then he turned to the door,
as if unwilling to mention it, and said, " the west-
end job.'* Brunt then said, " D — n my eyes,
name it." On which Thistlewood again said,
*' Gentlemen, we are come to the determination
to do this job, that we were talking about so long,
and as we find there is no probability of meeting
them (Ministers) altogether, we shall, if no
opportunity of doing them altogether occurs, take
them separately, at their own houses, and do as
many as we can. If we can only get three or
four at a time we must do them." He also said,
" I suppose we can take forty or fifty men to do this
west-end job ; and I propose to take the two
pieces of cannon in Gray's Inn-lane, and the six
pieces in the Artillery-ground." He proposed
Cooke to lead this party, and he himself would
command. He said they should take the
Mansion-house as the seat of the Provisional
Government.

They were next to take the Bank of England ;
and Palin should be the man who should set
fire to the barracks, and several parts of London.

u 2

148 CA'iO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

This was the principal pari; of the plan, but if
any thing else occurred before Wednesday, they
would think of it. Brunt was then going to put
a proposition which he had for assassinating the
Ministers, but Thistlewood said, his plan should
be first put from the chair, as they were nearly
all agreed on it. He desired the chairman to ask
if any of them had any thing to say, and that
they should say it ; but none of them saying any
thing, the plan was carried unanimously. Brunt
then came forward with his plan, which was, that
they should assassinate as many of his Majesty's
Ministers as possible ; that they should draw
lots to assassinate some of the Ministers ; and
whoever the fellow was on whom the lot fell, he
should murder the Minister, or be murdered
himself; and that if any man failed in the at-
tempt, he (Brunt) swore by all that was good, he
should be run through the body. On which I
got up, and said, " Mr. Brunt, do you not think
it possible for a man to attempt such a thing, and
not succeed in it ; and do you mean to say he
should be run through the body for not doing it?"
To which he said, "I do not : if a man should
attempt it and not succeed, he is a good man ;
but if he shews any cowardice, he deserves to
be run through the body." This proposition of
Brunt's was then put to the meeting.

Soon after this, Palin, Potter, and Strange, came
in. They were welcomed, and were desired to
sit near the fire, as they were wet. Palin said,
** There is one thing I want to know ; if it can
be done, it will be a great assistance to our plan.
I want to know what men are to perform each
part of the plan, and who are to take the cannon.
1 want to know, in calling upon the men, whether
I can tell them in part or whole what is to be
done." The chairman said, " I don't see where
the harm is of telling what is to be done.'' Mr.

TRIAL OF THISTJ.EWOOD. ] 49

Palin, seeing that he had that liberty, sat down
quite satistied. Nothing regukir was transacted
in the chair after that. Mr. Thistlewood said,
" O, Brunt, that is well thought of, as Palin is
here : you and Palin go, and see if the house near
FurnivaFs Inn is fit for setting fire to. They
went (Palin and Brunt), and reported it would

make a d d good fire. Thistlewood talked of

getting means for a treat on Tuesday and Wed-
nesday. Brunt said, he would be d d, but he

would contribute the only 1/. note he had earned
for a long time. They proposed the White-Hart
for the house. Thistlewood proposed his own
room ; but afterwards thought it would not do, as
it might lead to suspicion. This was all on the
Sunday morning. On Monday morning they met
again. Witness then told them what Ilobbe» told
him on Sunday night, of inquiries made respect-
ing radical meetings at his house, and that
information of it w^as given at Bow^-street office,
and at Lord Sidmouth's office. Harrison turned
round on witness like a lion, and said " Adams,

you have acted d d wrong." Brunt said so

too, and added, *' Whatever you have to commu-
nicate, you have no business to communicate but
to me and to Thistlewood." Witness said, it
concerned all, and he should tell all of it. They
repeated the same observations. They talked of
calling a meeting of the Mary-le-bone Union, as
they wanted some money ; and Brunt said, it
would be of use for that purpose.

Witness and Potter went in the evening to the
White-Hart ; Palin and Bradburn joined them.
Next morning they were there too, and with them
Thistlewood, Tidd, Ings, Harrison, and Brunt.
Edwards came, and told them there was to be
a cabinet dinner next ni<'ht. Thistlewood said,
he did not think it was true. A newspaper was
sent for, and read by Thistlewood. He read that
they were to dine at Lord Harrowby's, Grosvenor-

150 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

square. Brunt then said, " I'll be d — ■ — d if I
don't believe there is a God, I have often prayed
that he would bring all these thieves together, in
order to destroy them. He has answered my
prayer." Thistlewood proposed, that they should
form a committee and sit immediately. Witness
took the chair. "'

Thistlewood proposed immediately a fresh plan
to be formed respecting the assassination. Wit-
ness expressed a hope they had paid due con-
sideration to what he said yesterday. All got
into confusion. Harrison said, *' D — n that man
who attempted to throw cold water on the plan,
but he would run him through with the sword."
Witness left the chair, and Tidd took it. Brunt
moved that a watch should be set on the Earl of
Harrowby^s house that night. The object was to
see if any men or soldiers went into Earl Har-
rowby's. Two were to go at six, to be relieved
at nine, and they were to continue till twelve.
The watch was to be resumed at four next
morning.

Thistlewood said he hoped they would be sa-
tisfied that no officers or soldiers went in. They
would do what they had determined to-morrow
evening; and added, that it would answer their
purpose much better than to attack their houses
separately, when only two or three could be got
together. Here they would have fourteen or
sixteen ; a rare haul to murder them all. " I pro-
pose," continued he, ** when the door is opened,
to rush in, seize the servants, present pistols, and
threaten to kill them if they make any noise ;
two to take the entrance to the stair upwards,
and two others to the stair to the lower part of
the house, armed with blunderbusses and hand-
grenades ; and if any attempt to pass, to throw
hand-grenades and destroy them all. Others are
to go where the ministers are to murder them all.
If there shall be any good men, kill them for

TRIAL OF THISTLF.WOOD. 151

keeping bad company." All agreed. Ings said,
he would go in first, with a brace of pistols and
knives. The two swordsmen would cut off all their
heads ; and Castlereagh's and Sidmouth's should
be flung in a bag by themselves. He added, " I
shall say, my Lords, I have got as good men here
as the Manchester yeomanry; enter citizens, and
do your duty." Harrison and witness were to be
the swordsmen. After the execution of Lord
Harrowby, at his house, Harrison proposed that
some should go to King-street horsje-barracks, and
set fire to the premises by throwing fire into the
straw in the stable.

Harrison and Wilson were to go to Gray's Inn-
lane, and, in case they could not carry the cannon
out of the military- school, they were to wait till a
party came to assist them. Thence they were to
proceed to the artillery barracks, to assist Cooke
in taking the cannon there. If they found their
strength sufficient to proceed, they were to ad-
vance to the Mansion-house, and plant three of
the cannon on each side of the Mansion-house,
and to demand the Mansion-house. If it were
refused, they were to fire, and then it would be
given up. The Mansion-house was to be made
the seat for the Provisional Government.

The Bank of England was next to be taken.
They would take the books, which would enable
them to see further into the villany of the govern-
ment. The further parts of the plan were delayed
till Wednesday. They agreed upon a sign and
countersign. The word was " Button;" the man
who came up was to say B-u-t ; and the other
was to reply t-o-n. — Being asked as to the watch,
witness said, There are other things which I wish
to state. I went there next morning, and found
Edwards, Ings, and Hall, making fusees for the
hand-grenades. Davidson went on the watch at
six. Witness and Brunt went to relieve the
watch. They saw Davidson in the square, on the

152 CATO-STREET CONSPIHACY.

watch. They went into a public-house, where
Brunt played at dominos with a young man.

About eleven they went out into the square,
and walked for some time, till witness got ashamed
of himself. They went away at twelve o'clock.
He went next day to Fox-court, between two and
three. He found Brunt there. Strange came in,
and in a few minutes afterwards two more stran-
gers. Strange and another were trying the flints.
They went into a back room to avoid the strangers,
where witness saw cutlasses, blunderbusses, &c.
Thistlewood, Ings, and Hall came in. Thistle-
wood said, "• Well, my lads, this looks like some-
thing to be done." He touched witness on the
shoulder, and asked how he was. Witness replied
that he was very unwell, and in low spirits.
Thistlewood sent for beer and gin. Thistlewood
then wanted some paper to write bills on. Wit-
ness said, cartridge paper would do. The paper
was brought ; and table and chair were got. The
bills were then written ; they were to be set on
the houses, to let the people know v/liat had been
done. Thistlewood read as part, " Your tyrants
are destroyed — the friends of liberty are called
upon to come forvvard — the Provisional Govern-
ment is now sitting. James Ings, Secretary.
February 28." Thistlewood was much agitated,
and could Vv'rite only three. Another bill was
written, which was an address to the soldiers.
Another person was employed to write it, and
Thistlewood dictated to him. — Witness said he
would tell what he had seen.

Mr. Adolphus objected to this, and contended,
that the writing alone was evidence.

Witness could not say what became of the
papers, and he had not seen them since.

Mr. Solicitor-General now stated, that notice
had been given to produce the writings.

Witness said that this second kind of bill was not
finished, — they could not agree as to the terms.

TKiAi. or imsj ij woGi). 153

"Sir. Adolphus renewed his (jl)jection to the
question what Tliistlewod dictated to l)e written.

Lord Chiet'-Juslice Abbot. — In whose hands
had you hist seen the paper ?

Witness did not know him.

His Lordsliip said, some doubts were enter-
tained by some [)art of the Court.

Mr. Sohcitor-General said, he would not
press it.

Witness went on. — Int^-s had tM-o black belts on,
one for two })istols, the other I'or cutlasses. He
had two bags on his shoulders, like soldiers haver-
sacks. He looked at himself and said, he was
not complete yet, he had ibrgot his steel. He took
out a large knife, and brandished it about, and
said, it would cut otf the heads of Castlercagh
and Sidmouth, and it would be thought a great
deal of at some future time. The knife was a
large broad knife, twelve inches long, the hand
bound round with wax to keep a firm hold of it.
Others were busy at other arms. They began to
leave the room about half-past four or live, to go
about the business.

l^alin came in half an hour before. Palin said
they ought to be aware of what they were about,
and to think within themselves whether they were
to do their country service or not, and whether
the assassmati(/n would be countenanced by their
country. If they thought their country would
join them, then the man who tiinched should be
run through on the spot. Unless they came to
this deiermination they would do no good, A tall
man came in, and asked what the business they
were about was. Witness had never seen him
before, Tlie tall man said, if they were to serve
tlieir country, he was their man, and if any one
was afraid of his life, he ought to have nothing to
do with such a concern as that. Thistlewood was
then gone. Brunt was tokl, that inquiries were
made by some who were present, as to the j)km

X

154 CATO-STUEF.T COXSrillACY.

they were about, Brunt said, that was not the
room for telling that ; but they should go with
him, and they would know. Brunt promised
spirits ; and the tall man cautioned against drun-
kenness, as ruinous to a cause like that. They
went along the street, two and two, and at some
distance, that they might not be observed. There
was a cupboard in the room used for swords,
hand-grenades, and flannel bags for cartridges,
one of which was full. The rest of the arms were
in Tidd's room; that was the dep6t. Thistlewood
was always in a hurry to carry every thing that
was got ready into the depot, lest any officer
should see it. Witness carried a brass-barrelled
blunderbuss. There were pikes made of old files.
Witness as he went on missed all his associates.
He returned back, and met Brunt, who returned
back with him along the Edge ware-road, till they
met Thistlewood.

They went altogether to the stable in Cato-
street. Witness stayed behind till Harrison came
up, and made him go in. He saw there, David-
son and Wilson below, Thistlewood, Ings, Hall,
Bradburn, Strange, Cooper, the tall man, and
others above. There were, as Thistlewood calcu-
lated, at last, eighteen above and two below.
There was a bench above and arms on it. Some
beer was standing on the table. There were lights.
There was a chest. Before Tidd came, Thistle-
wood went out for some time. Witness heard a
deal of talk below, and he found Thistlewood,
Brunt, Harrison, Davidson, and Wilson. They
spoke of the good news, they heard that the
carriages were arriving at Lord Ilarrowby's as
fast as they could. Witness went up to the^loft,
and saw Thistlewood and Brunt much agitated.
They spoke of Tidd's absence. Brunt pledged
his word that he would come. lie soon after-
wards came. Thistlewood said, " I hope you
will not give up what you are going to do ; if you

TRIAf. (IF THlSTLtWOOl). \u~j

do, this will be another Desp-ard's business." He
then counted twenty ])ersons, and said that was
enough, fourteen would be sufficient to go into
the room, and the other six would take care of
the servants and doors. They then set apart
fourteen.

The gin bottle was then started, Thistlcwood
said, if Lord Harrowby had sixteen servants, that
was nothing, as they would not be prej)ared. A
noise was heard below. Thistlewood took a
candle and looked down to see who they were,
and then set down the candle quite confused, ac-
cording to witness's judgment. Two officers took
command of the room, holding small pistols, and
said, " A pretty nest there is of you. We have
got a warrant to apprehend you all, and hope you
will go peaceably.'^ A man who was on the step
of the ladder said, "Let me come forward." This
was the man murdered. A group of persons had
got into the little room, and then came forward,
and one of them stretched forward an arm, wit-
ness saw nothing in it, and another presented a
pistol. The man fell. It was impossible for him
to give a particular account of the other transac-
tions. He got away, went home, and was appre-
hended on the Friday, and remained in custody
since. He identified Davidson, Wilson, Brunt,
Ings, Cooper, Harrison, Tidd. There were two
he did not know. They were again called for-
Avard, but he said he could not swear to them.
He was sent forward near the dock : but he said
he did not know them. One of them, he said, he
saw at the meeting.

Cross-examined by Mr. Cur wood. — He went
not there to assassinate his iMajesty's Ministers.
His legs carried him there. His outward intent
to all a|)])carancc was for that ; but his inward
intent was against it. He was kept to it, because
Brunt said, whoever forsook them would be
marked. He became ac({uainted with Brunt in

X 2

156 CATO-STllEET COXSPJRACV.

Cambray, in 181C. He had been a soldier years
before. He was a shoemaker. He had never
been treasurer to a benefit society. He carried
with him 40/. He thought the money his own.
He had never been charged with steahng it. He
was introduced to Thistlewood by his friend
Brunt, to assassinate his Majesty's Ministers.
That was the first object. He first gave infor-
mation on the Saturday after. It was indeed
from compunction. " Tviy motive was, gentle-
men of the Jury, I do assure you, that I made a
vow to God that I should tell the whole truth. 1
did indeed regard it v^'itll horror. I felt com-
punctious visitings before I was in custody. It was
not because I felt my neck in danger, or because I
thought it was better eighteen should be hanged
than myself." The greatest number he ever saw
present was fifteen men. The greatest sum he
saw was sixpence. There was no collection of
halfpence and pence for the newspaper. Tidd's
was the depot. He saw no muster-roll, and no
cannon-ball. The cannon were to be charged
with cartridges, and a large hammer was to be
l)ought to strike down the tops of the iron pa-
lisades, as it was thought they would do more
execution than balls. The newspa})er was " The
New Times." Witness did not know whether it
was correct. He had seen nothing of Edwards
since. He was employed to carry a sword, as
being expert at it. He was not sufficiently near
to liave killed the man in the loft with the sw^ord.
His liand was not extended. He could tell no-
thing of the ]troceedings that followed. He went
away, and did not deliver himself up, because
he saw no officer. He went home to abide the
event.

l^c-examined in chief. — He said, the British
army were at Cambray wlien he became ac-
quainted with B.runt there.

Another witness was then called, but the Court

TRIAL OF Tin.-- ]'Lr. WOOD. I ~j7

and Jury were of opinion, as it was halt-past
seven, that it was the best time for adjourning.
Tiie C(jurt was aecordinL,dy adjourned till nine
o'cloek on Tuesday niornini;".

SECOND DAY.— Tuesday,, Aprii. L^.

The Court met this morning- at nine o'elock,
and tiie names of the Jury having been ealled
over, antl "I'histlewood and the other prisoners
being- put to the bar, the evidence for the prose-
eution was continued.

Kr.Fwoii Waiker examined by Mr. Gurney. —
1 am servant to Henry Rogers : he lives at No. 4,
Fox-eoiirt, (jrav"s-Tnn-lane. We had a lodger
named ]5runt. He occupied two rooms on the
second floor. They were front rooms. In Ja-
nuiry a 1 xlger came, iiilrocluced by Hrunt. This
Avus a month ov hve weeks before Brunt was
taken up. He (Brunt) said the lodger lately
eainc from the country, and he wanted a room;
and as we had one to let, he wished him to have
it. The room was unfurnislied. He ])aid three
shillings a week for it. He (the lodger) said he
might not bring his goods in for a week or better.
He never brought any in to my knowledge. 1 do
not think I should know him again. 1 do not
remember having heard him called by his name.
The room he took was a two-paii' back room.

This witness was not cross-examined.

i{e-called. — While this perscui occupied the
room, I h(>ard persons iVecpientlv go up stairs,
t Mauv rvoci.Rs, the aunt ;ind mistress of the
last \vitne-;s, examined bv Mv. Curncy. — -The
room was let bv my maid while I was out. After
the lodger had been in the house for a week, I
said to Mr. I3runt, " Vou have brought a lodger."
He said, "'iC's, I have, and I hope he will pay
NOLI. I know i\ otliinu" of" the man, but seeing

158 CATO-STREET fONSPlUACY.

him at a public-house, and seeing him want a
room." He said he was a butcher out of work.
He paid me for four or five weeks. I cannot say
whether he ever slept there; he did not to my
knowledge. I and my maid in the evening saw
three men coming up stairs. The one in the
middle was a black man. The light from my
room was on their faces. At other times 1
heard persons going up stairs, but took no par-
ticular notice.

This witness was not cross-examined.

Joseph Hale, a young lad, the apprentice of
Brunt, examined by Mr. Gurney. — I am ap-
])rentice to Brunt. I have served two years and
iDctter of my apprenticeship. I lived with him
in Fox-court. I remember a person coming to
lodge there in January. His name was Ings, a
butcher. Brunt and he looked at the room.
Brunt said, " It will do ; go down and give them a
shilling." After that Ings used to come to the
room. The key was mostly left in the front
room, and Ings used to come there for it. Per-
sons used sometimes to come to the room before
my master was taken up. This was every evening.
r saw different persons. They were Ings, Tidd,
Thistlewood, Bradburn, Edwards, Hall, Potter,
and Strange. I remember a man named Adams:
he came. Davidson, the black man, came also.
Others used to come, but I do not recollect them.
They used to stay nearly about two hours. There
was no furniture in the room that ever I saw.
They used to take chairs in, out of the front
room. I did not hear any of their conver-
sation. They used to call Thistlewood some-
times T., his initial, and sometimes Arthur. I
once saw the door of Ings's room open, and
saw some long poles, like branches of trees cut
rough ; I suppose about twenty of them. I
sometimes heard hammering and sawing in tlie
room. My master was taken on Thursdav, the

TRIAL OF THfSTI.EM'OOD. ]•')!)

24tli of February. On the Sunday before that
there was a meeting in the room. There were
more tliat morning than ever I had seen come up
before. All the persons whom I have named
were there that morning. After the meeting broke
up I saw Strange in my master's room. There
was no meeting on the Monday evening. There
was no meeting on Tuesday. On the Wednesday
there were several persons going in and out.
Some of them came into the front room, where I
worked. They got some pistols, and were putting-
new Hints in them. There were five or six pistols.
One of the men said there were people overlooking
them from the next house, and Brunt told them to
go to the back room. Strange and a man whom
1 did not know were the men who had the pistols.
I cannot say how many I saw go in and out. I
saw Thistlewood that day. In the afternoon he
asked me for a sheet of writing-paper. I gave
him one. He took it, I believe, into the back
room.

My master after this came out of the back
room, and desired me to get six sheets of cartridge
paper. He gave me sixpence. I bought tiie
paper and gave it to him, and he took it into the
back room. This w^as about four or five in the
afternoon. I heard people going dow^n stairs
between five and six. My master was in and out
several times. He went away finally about six.
There was a man went with him. It was not one
of the men I used to see there, A table had been
taken that day from my mistress's room to the back
room. I v>ant('d the table, and went for it. I
knocked at the door, and Potter o])ened it. There
were ibur or five in the room besides Potter.
After my master was gone, I saw Tidd between
seven and eiglit, Mrs. Brunt called him, and he
came into her room. She showed him a pike-
head and a sword. She asked him what she
should do with them, She then gave them to

IGO CATO-STREET CONSPIFIACY

him, and he took them out of the room into the
back room. After this I heard some persons g-o
down stairs. Tidd left a message, that if any
persons called they should be sent to the White
Hart. Some persons did call on my master, and
I went to show them to the White ilart. Potter
came, and he went. He knew the way himself.
There were three came to whom I shewed the
way.

My master came home that night at about
nine o'clock. I observed his dress was dirty.
He appeared confused. I heard him say to his
wife, it was all up, or words to that effect. He
said that where he had been, a great many officers
had come in. He said he had saved his life, and
that was all. Just as he said this, anotlier man
came in. I do not know that man. Brunt shook
hands with him, and asked him if he knew who
had informed. The man said, no. The man then
said, he had had a dreadful blow on the side,
which knocked him down. Brunt then said,
" There is something to be done yet." After this
Brunt and the other man went away together.
Mrs. Brunt and I after this went to Ino-s's room.
I saw several rolls of brown paper with tar in
them. I saw only one pole remaining. I saw
something rolled up, and tied round with strings,
I understood them to be hand-grenades. I saw
an iron pot belonging to Brunt. My master came
in about eleven o'clock. He told me to get up in
the morning as soon as I could and clean his
boots. They were very dirty. He called me in
the morning at half past six, and when I got up
he asked me if I knew the Borough. I told him
yes. He then asked if 1 knew Snow's-fields. 1
said no. He then went into the back room and
put the things out of the cupboard into two
baskets ; one of which was afterwards put into a
blue apron belonging to Mrs. Brunt. This apron
had before this been as a curtain in Ings's room.

TRIAL OF THIf^TLEWOOD. IGl

My master told me that Potter lived in Snow's
fields. ^\'hen we had the baskets ready, two
officers came in and took my master into cnstody.
I knew M'here Tidd lived. He lived in the Hole-
in-the-Wall-passage, Brooks'-market. Adams lived
next door.

Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus. — My master
is a journeyman shoemaker : not a very poor man.
Adams is also a shoemaker. Ings had the lodg-
ings five weeks. I believe they had meetings
there every night. I thought there were about
twenty persons there on the Sunday. I know
some of the prisoners. Strange is a boot-seller —
selling boots in a shop. Edwards was an artist.
Edwards v/as there very often : oftener than
Adams — almost every day. Hall was a journey-
man tailor, I believe. I don't know where he
lives. I cannot say how many persons were there
at one time on Wednesday. The baskets used
by my master were rush baskets. As near as I
can guess there were about twenty poles. They
w^ere branches of trees in a green raw state. I
believe they kept a fire in Ings's room. I do not
know whether the poles were cut up to light the
fire or not.

Thomas Smart examined by Mr. Littledale. —
I am a watchman of the parish of St. George,
Hanover-square. I was on watch on the south
side of Grosvenor-square, on Tuesday the 22d of
February. I went there abcnit eight o'clock.
About half-past eight I saw four suspicious men
walking the scjuare. I thought they were after
no good ; one of them was a dark man, and the
other a tall man. 1 watched them. They were
looking down the areas. Charles Bissix's box is
at the west side of the square.

Cross-examined by Mr. Garwood. — It was not
a very uncommon thing to see suspicious men
walking about.

Henry Gillav examined by Mr, l^olland. — I

v

1G2 CATO-STREP,T CONSPIRACY.

am a servant to Mr. Whittle, apothecary, at 15,
Mount-street, Grosvenor-square. I sometimes
use the Rising-sun public-house. It is in Charles-
street, which runs into Grosvenor-square and
Mount-street. I was there on Tuesday the 22d
of February. I saw that short man (pointing to
the prisoner Brunt) there. There was a tall man
with him. They had some bread and cheese and
porter. There were dominos on the table, and
the short man challenged me to play with him. I
played two games with him, and left the house
before ten, leaving them there.

John Hector Morris examined by the Attor-
ney-General.— I am a journeyman cutler to Mr. Un-
derwood, in Drury-lane. I remember on Christ-
mas-eve a man brought a sword to my master's
shop. The man was habited like a butcher. He
drew the sword from under his smock-frock,
without a scabbard. He wished to have it ground
sharp, particularly at the point. He said to put
the name of Inns on it ; but I am hard of hearing,
and it might be Ings. He called for it in a few
days. In about a fortnight he brought another
sword to have it sharpened in the same way. It
was much longer than the other. [Here the
witness identified the prisoner Ings as the man
who brought the swords.] 1 should know the
swords again.

Edward Simpson examined by the Attorney-
General. — I am a corporal major of the 2nd
Regiment of Life-Guards. I know a person named
Harrison. He was in the Guards. (Here he
identified Harrison.) He was discharged in 1814.
When I knew.him, he was in King-street barracks,
Portman-square. He had an opportunity of know-
ing them. Part of the barracks looked into
Gloucester Mews. There was a loft with five
windows looking into it. There was hay and
straw in that loft ; the windows had been stopped
up since the Cato-strcet business.

TRIAL Ol' imSTLEWOOD. 163

Cross-examined by Mr. Curvvood. — I don't
know how many men are in Knightsbridge bar-
racks ; they would hold about 300.

James Adams examined by the Attorney-
General. — I am a pawnbroker in Berwick-street.
I know the prisoner Davidson from his having
pledged things at my shop. He came on the 23d
of February, in the morning, and took a brass-
barrelled blunderbuss out of pledge.

This witness was not cross-examined.

Thomas Hydex examined by Mr. Gurney. — I
am a cow-keeper. I was formerly a member of
a shoemakers" club. I knew Wilson there. I saw
him a few days before the 23d of February ; he
met me in the street, and made a proposition to
me. He asked me if I would be one of a party
to destroy his ^lajesty's Ministers ; he said they
were waiting lor a cabinet dinner, and that all
things were ready. He told me they had a sort
of things which I never saw; they were called by
the name of hand-grenades, — and, he said, he de-
pended on me to be one. He said that Mr.
Thistlewood would be glad to see me, if I would
be one. He said, the use to be made of the hand-
grenades was to be put under the table, at the
cabinet dinner, with the fuse alight, and those
who escaped were to be destroyed by the sword
or some other weapon. He also said that fires
were to be lighted, and the town to be kept in
confusion for several days, till the thing became
general. He named some houses. Lord Har-
rowby's, Lord Castlereagii's, Lord Wellington's,
Lord Sidmouth's, the Bishop of London's, and
several others which I do not remember. I told
him I would make one. This was, I believe, four
or five days before the Cato-street business. Be-
fore that I went to Lord Harrowby's. I do not
remember the day. I followed his Lordshij) in
the i^ark. 1 gave him a note. On Wednesday,
the 23d, I saw Wilson again. 1 believe it was

V 2

164 CATO-STIiEEr CONSPIRACY.

between four and five o'clock in the afternoon. I
met him in Manchester-street, ]\lanchester-square.
He said, " Hyden, you are the very man I wanted
to see." I asked him what there was goin<i- to
be; and he said, there was to be a cabinet dinner
at Lord llarrowby's, Grosvenor-square. He told
me I was to go to the Horse and Groom public-
house, the corner of Cato-street. I was to go in
there, or otherwise I was to wait at the corner
until I was shoved into a stable close by. I asked
him the hour, and he said about half past five or
a quarter before six. 1 then asked him how
many there were to be, and he said twenty or
thirty. 1 asked him, was that all there was going
to be ? and he said, there was to be another
party in the Borough, another in Gray's Inn-lane,
and another in Gee's-court, or in the city. He
said, all Gee's-court were in it ; but they would
not act till after the English began, as they had so
often deceived them before. Gee's-court is inlia-
bited by Irish. It is at the St. Giles's end of
Oxford-street. He also said there was a gentle-
man's servant supporting them with money ; and,
if they would act on the subject, he would give
them a great deal more. He asked me if I had
a gun ; and i said yes, but it was only a rubbishing
one. He then said they would provide me with
a gun, and something to work with. There were,
he also said, two pieces of cannon in Gray's Inn-
lane, which they could get by breaking in a small
door. He said there were four pieces of cannon
in the Artillery Ground, and they could be very
easily taken, by killing the sentinel. After they
left Grosvenor-square, they were to meet near the
Mansion-house. I was lold to con;c to my time,
or the thing would be done before 1 came.

I went to .Tohn-strect that evening; it A\as
nearly seven o'clock. The entrance to Cato-street
is a little gateway from .John-stnjct. When I got
there I saw Wilson and Diwidsoii ; I l.ad seen him

THIAI- OF TIIISTI.EWOOD. \Gj

(Davidson) before. Davidson said I was come,
and he asked me if I would go in, i said no, as I
was goinj^ somewhere else to look for some
cream. He said if I would go in, Mr. Thistle-
wood was there. I asked him what time I should
be there, and he said eight o'clock. If 1 were
not there in time, he said, 1 was to follow them
down to Grosveuor-squarc, and, at the fourth
house from the corner, at the bottom of the square,
I should find them.

Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus. — I am not
certain whether the first conversation 1 had with
Wilson was before the Sunday, before the Cato-
street business. I am not quite certain. It was
four or five days before. 1 am not able to say
what day I gave the information to Lord liar-
rowby. It might be a day or two beibre I saw
Wilson in Manchester-street. The conversation
with Wilson was in Manchester-street ; we were
walking up and dow^n the street.

A note was here put into witness's hand, which
he said was the one given by him to Lorel Har-
rowby. It was in his own hand- writing.

Cross-examined. — The reason wdiy 1 gave the
note to Lord Harrowby was, because I could not
see Lord Castlcrcagh. — I did not call at Lord
Castlereagh's house, but I went three or four
times near the house, in order to see him. I did
not see him, and then I gave the note to Lord
Harrowby. 1 am certain that in Wilson's con-
versation v.'ith me, the wa^rds, " His jNiaJesty's
jMinisters," were used.

The Eakl of HAKRo^vnv examined from the
bench by the Attorney-General. — 1 reside in
(jrosvenor-s(;uare, on the si'Uth side, near Charles-
street, next door to the Archhishop of York's. 1
am a Privy-Couneillor, and op.e of his Majesty s
Ministers. 1 am i*rcsident ol tlie Council, and
one of the CabnuM. On the '23d of February
last, I intended uiA intra cn!)inet dinner; I think

166 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

it was on Wednesday, the 23d. Only those who
compose the Cabinet are invited to Cabinet
dinners. I believe the invitations went out the
latter part of the week before, but my head
servant can speak to that more correctly. Invi-
tations were sent to the Lord Chancellor ; to the
Earl of Liverpool, the First Lord of the Treasury ;
to Mr. Vansittart, the chancellor of the Ex-
chequer ; to Earl Bathurst, the Secretary of State
for the Colonial department ; to Lord Sidmouth,
the Secretary of State for the Home Department ;
to Lord Castlereagh, the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs ; the Duke of Wellington, Master
General of the Ordnance ; Mr. Canning, the
First Commissioner of the India Board ; Mr.
Robinson, President of the Board of Trade ; Mr.
B. Bathurst, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan-
caster ; Mr. Wellesley Pole, the Master of the
Mint ; and the Earl of Mulgrave ; all these are
Privy-Councillors. They are employed in the
different offices I have mentioned, and also form
what is called the Cabinet, In common par-
lance they are called his Majesty's Ministers.
On the Tuesday before the intended dinner, I
was riding in the Park without a servant. It was
about two o'clock. I went to a Council at Carlton-
House. I am not positive as to the hour. As I
came near Grosvenor-gate a person met me, and
asked me if 1 was Lord Harrowby. I said, yes.
He said he wished to give a note to Lord
Castlereagh, which was of considerable im-
portance to him and to myself. He then gave me
a letter. After some further conversation, he
gave me a card, with his address. I saw the
man again by appointment on Wednesday
morning in the ring, among the young plantations
in Hyde- Park. The dinner did not take place at
my house on Wednesday. The preparations
went on as if the parties were to dine together,
until I wrote a note from the Earl of Liverpool's

,<;

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/.,v.-/-./,,/V//,//.r/,,Y//n-|'iH.'l\i-llv, /-/;//, /-//,. /,/■//,-„

TRIAL O.-^ THISTLEW'OOI). 1G7

to my liead servant, to say the Cabinet would not
dine there. It would be seven, or half past, at
which the party would dine.

Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood. — I had some
general knowledge of some cons])iracy, or some-
thing of the kind, going on before this. I do not
know a person named Edwards. We had some
general information a considerable time before
this, that some plan was in agitation, but we did
not know the time at which it was to take place,
or the particulars. I will not say to two months.
It was some considerable time before this.

JoHx Baker examined by the iUtorney-Ge-
neral. — I am butler to Lord Harrowby. The
cards of invitation were issued for the cabinet
dinner on the 18th. or 19th. It was about eight
in the evening of the 23d when I lirst knew that
the Cabinet were not to dine at my Lord Har-
rowby's. The preparations for it went on till
then. The Archbishop of York lives next door to
my Lord Ilarrowby's. I can't say whether his
grace had company on the 23d of February. I
noticed several carriages draw up at his door.

JoHx MoNU-MEXT examined by the Solicitor-
General. — I am by trade a shoemaker. I gene-
rally live near Brooks'-market, but I am now a
prisoner in the Tower. I know the prisoner This-
tlewood. I met him at the house of one Ford
some weeks before the transactions of the 23d of
February. He afterwards called upon me at my
lodgings. He was not alone. Brunt was with
him. He told me that he wanted to speak with
me in private. In consequence I went out of the
room with him, my mother and brother being at
that time in the room with me. Brunt staid
behind when I went out, Thistlewood then said
to me, " Great events are now close at hand —
the people are every where anxious for a change.
He had been promised support by a great many

168 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

men, who had deceived him, but he had now got
men who would stand by him."

He then asked me if 1 had any arms. I said,
*' No, I had not.'' He said, that every man of
them, that is, of those who were attached to him,
had arms, pikes, pistols, or sabres ; and added,
that I might buy a pistol for four or five shillings,
I said that I was too poor to buy one. He replied,
that if such were the case, he would see what
could be done for me. Brunt called upon me
again in four or five days. He said, that he could
not stay long with me ; there were several more
men of his trade waiting to see him on this busi-
ness, and he must call on them. I did not see
him afterwards for some time. He called, how-
ever, again upon me on the Tuesday previous to
the 23d. 1 then told him that I thought I had
lost him, as he had staid away so very long. He
replied, that owing to the King's death, an alte-
ration had taken place in their plans. I asked
what those plans were. He said that I should
know them better at a meeting to be held the
night afterwards, than he could tell me. I asked
him where the meeting was to be. He said at
Tyburn-turnpike. He did not tell me what was
to be done there.

I asked him if I was to see any persons there
how I was to know them as friends, and requested
him to give me the word. Brunt then told me,
that if I saw raiy persons about, I was to say
B-U-T ; and if they were friends, they would say
T-O-N. He would, however, call on me the fol-
lowing morning, and tell me more particulars.

On the Wednesday afternoon, between four
and five, he did call again : he came by himself.
He called me down stairs, and asked me if 1 was
ready to go. I said, " No, I have got some
work to do, and it n.tist be done before I go.''
He asked me how long it would be before it was

TRIAL OK TUlSTLEWOOn. I GO

hiiisliod. 1 said, that it would be done about six
o'cloek. He then said, that he could not wait for
me so long — that I must therefore come to the
place appointed along with the man to whom he
had introduced me ; that man's name was Tidd.
He charged me not to be later than six o'clock, as
Tidd had others as well as myself, to take with
him to the place of meeting,

I went to Tidd's at half-past six, who com-
plained that many men had disappointed him.
We waited till seven, but no person came. Tidd
then went into a corner of the room, took out a
large pistol, and stuck it in a belt, which he wore
round his waist. He also took out four or five
pike-heads, which he wrapped up in brown paper.
He took also several shafts, four or five feet long.
We then went out, along Holborn, and up Oxford-
street. I asked him, in his room, where we were
going. He said to a room in a mews in John-
street, Edgware-road. Wlien we got into Holborn,
he gave me the pike-shafts, and told me to take
care of them. 1 asked him again, as we were
going along, where we were going ; and wanted
to know whether it was to the House of Commons.
He said, " No, there w'ere too many soldiers near
there." I again pressed him on the subject, and
he said that they were going to Grosvenor-square,
as there was a cabinet dinner there that evening.
I did not ask him any more questions ; for on his
saying that, I was satisfied for what purpose they
were going.

We then went to Cato-street. Under the arch-
way I saw two men, whom Tidd appeared to
know. He spoke to them ; and, after a few
moments we all went into the stable together.
There were in the loft and stable about twenty-
four or twenty-five persons. I had not been
there long when some one proposed to count tlu'
numbers assembled. Thistlewood replied, ih;it
there was no occasion to do so, as he knew t)r,:(

z

170 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

there were about four or five and twenty persons
ni the room. There wavS a person in a brown
great coat sitting on a carpenter's bench, who
spoke of the impropriety of going with so small a
number to Lord llarrowby's. Thistlewood re-
plied, there were quite enough of them. He only
wanted thirteen to go into the room, and sup-
posing Lord Harrowby to have sixteen servants,
that number would be quite enough to master
them.

Tlie man in the brown coat said, "After we have
done, there will be a crowd about the door, how
are we to make our escape?'^ Thistlewood said,
" You know the larger body is already gone to
arrange matters ; we, the smaller, are left to do
the business.'" Davidson then blamed the tall
man in the brown great coat for throwing cold
water on the plan, and added, that if he was
afraid, he might as well go away. Brunt said,
" Rather than give up the business, I will go to
the house and blow it up, though I perish myself
in the ruins, for you know we have got that which
can easily do it." The man in the great coat
then said, as they were all for it, he would not
oppose il, lie then proposed that all in the room
should put themselves under the orders of This-
(lewood. U[)on which Thistlewood said, that all
engaged in the business were equal, and should
iiave the same honour as himself, and proposed
that fourteen should volunteer to go into the room
at Lord llarrowby's. Those that volunteered
■,vere to range themselves on the side in which the
iiic-piace stood. They did so in the course of a
lew minutes. Whether they were exactly I'ourteen
1 don't know.

1 lieard nothing said of what the rest were to
do. On somebody asking that question, Thistle-
wo^.d replied, that they all knew their places.
Thi^-tlewood then went out for a few moments.
ih) lus rctsini, !;<:■ said tli.it lie had reccjved iiitcl-

TKIAI. OF THISTLEW OOJ). j7 1

lig-ence that the Duke of WelHngton and Loixi
Sidinouth had arrived at Lord Ilarrowby's. 1 was
myself taken into eustody in the room.

Cross-examined by Mr. Aoolphus. — I never
saw Thistlewood till I saw him at Ford's. I at-
tended at the meeting- in Fin::V.nry-market. I was
so far off" that 1 could nt)t tell whether Thistle-
wood was there, nor even the pur[)ose of the
meeting. There was no particular acc[uaintance at
that time between me and Thistlewood. I did not
then know 13runt or Edw^ards. There was a long
interval betw^een my first and second conversation
with Brunt. I thought that they had done with
me, finding me so reluctant to join in their mea-
sures. The man in the brow^n coat was not
Adams. I have seen Adams since, at Hicks's
Hall. The room was much crowaled — tiie j)arties
in it were eating bread and cheese. 1 do not
know that I ever saw^ Adams before I saw him at
Hickss Hall. I recollect the prisoner Davidson
from his colour. If any person had addressed
them besides the man in the brown coat, 1 must
have heard him. I was taken in the room w hen
tlie soldiers came. I had no arms. I made no
resistance.

Re-examined by the Solicitor-Cxcneral. — 1 was
nearly the last })erson who entered the room, i
was there nearly a ({uarter of an hour before the
officers came. I was unacquainted with every
person in the room exee|)t Thistlewood, Bnuil,
and Tidd. It was candlelight. On the 1)cncli
were swords, pistols, and blunderbusses. ^^ lien
1 was brought up to Whitehall, 1 was handcuffed
to Thistlew^ood ; who advised me, when 1 came
before the Privy-Council, to say that 1 hud been
brouulit to Cato-street l)y Ivlwards. 1 asked him
how I could tell such a falsehood, when I had
never seen such a man as Edwards in my life.
He said that was of no conse([uencc. If asked whai
sort of a man he was, 1 was to say, he was alittl-.

172 CAtO-StUEFT COXSPiriACl.

taller than myself, and dressed in a brown
coat.

By a Juryman.^-I have had no communication
with Adams since my apprehension.

By the Solicitor-General. — I never saw him ex-
cept when I was brought up as a witness to
Ilicks's Hall.

Thomas Monument.-^I am brother to the
last witness. I remember Thistlewood calling
upon my brother. He brought Brunt with him.
They did not stay in the room more than five or
ten minutes. Thistlewood then asked my brother
if he might speak with him. On my brother's
replying yes, they went out together for ten
minutes. They then returned ; and Brunt and
Thistlewood went away.

On the Tueday before the Cato-street busi-
tiess, Brunt called again on my brother, with a
man named Tidd. My brother said, '* Brunt, I
have not seen you for so long a time, that 1 thought
1 had lost you." Brunt said, " The King's death
had made some alteration in our plans." My
brother asked what those plans were. Brunt
said, they had different objects in view. Brunt
asked my brother to meet him at Tyburn-turnpike
that evening, when an outline of their plan should
be given to him. Brunt said that he ought to be
there at six o'clock : if he saw any persons about,
he should say, B-u-t, and if they were of their
party they would say, t-o-n. They did not press
me to go, but spoke only to my brother. 1 did
not go. Brunt called at five the next evening for
my brother to go. He said, he could not go then,
as we had work to do. Brunt then bade my
brother call on Tidd, at the Hole-in-the-wall
passage, at seven. He did so, as I was in-
formed.

Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood. — Not sus-
pecting that any mischief was going on, I was not
anxious to know to what the conversation ul my

TRIAL OF TIirSTLEWOOD. 173

brother and Brunt referred. I thought that it
might perhaps relate to some club- dinner.

Thomas Dwyer examined by Mr. Gurney. — I
live in Cheese-court, Oxford-street. Some time
in February I became acquainted with Davidson.
He introduced me to Thistlewood. We went to-
gether to a public-house at the end of Molyneux-
street, not far from Cato-street. This might be
about the 9th, 10th, or 1 1th of February. This-
tlewood said nothing particular to me at that
time. He observed, that he had been in four or
five revolutions, and that Ireland was in a dis-
turbed state. 1 am an Irishman. Thistlewood
said, tliat he had a good many of my countrymen
with him. He pressed me to go with him also.

I saw Davidson on the night before the 23d.
He told me that he was going to stand sentry.
The next morning I was called upon by a per-
son, who took me to Fox-court, Gray's Inn-lane.
He was a tall man, and his name is Harrison.
We went into a two-pair back room ; the room
door was locked. He knocked at another door,
and a woman gave him the key. He opened the
door, and we entered.

There was a cupboard in the room, out of which
was taken a ball, wTapped up in yarn. Harrison
told me the purpose for which it was intended,
and called it a grenade. Shortly afterwards
Thistlewood, Davidson, and a few more, came in.
Davidson had a blunderbuss, a pair of pistols, and
a bayonet, in his side pocket. Others also came
in, but 1 did not know their names. [The wit-
ness was here told to look into the dock, and see
if he could identify any of the prisoners as being
then present. He instantly identified Brunt.]
On Davidson's saying that he had only given
twelve shillings for his justols. Brunt said he
would go out and buy a pair.

I had some conversation with Thistlewood
about the hand-<j:rcnades. Thistlewood said, that

174 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

some of them were to be thrown into the horse-
barracks, and others into Lord Ilarrowbys house,
to set fire to it, and blow it up. Thistlewood
asked me how many of my countrymen I could
muster, as he should want some of them at half-
past eight that evening. I told him that I could
muster about twenty-six or twenty-seven. He
told me that they, meaning himself and friends,
were to assemble at the Horse and Groom ; and
ordered me to be at the Pontefract Castle, at the
end of Barret's-court, a house much frequented
by Irishmen. He told me that I was to pick out
the best of my countrymen, and go to the Found-
ling Hospital, knock at the porter's lodge, put a
pistol to his breast, and turn on to the right
hand, as there were twenty-five or twenty- six
stand of arms in the other lodge : these I was to
seize. At the same time another party would
secure two pieces of cannon which were in the
Light Horse Riding-School, Gray's Inn-lane.
Another party was in the meantime to go to the
Artillery-ground, Finsbury, and seize what was
there. He also mentioned that there was to be
a cabinet dinner at Lord Harrowby's, and that
the party there were to be attacked.

After this, I saw a bundle, containing gun-
powder, taken out and laid upon the floor; a
tin measure was produced, and several smaller
woollen bags were filled with it. This was done
by Harrison. I afterwards heard Thistlewood
give directions generally to them all. He said
that a dozen pike-handles were to be taken to
Mary-le-bone, some others to Finsbury, and some
elsewhere. I was asked, but refused, to take
some of them. I saw a bag; and the })owder
which had been measured out, and also the gre-
nades, were put into it.

I heard directions given to a man by Harrison,
to take something to the Horse and C«rooni, at
the cuil of Cato-street. hi the mean tiiiic

Tin AT. OF TIIISTI.KM'OOl).

another person went out to get the pike-handles.
I got back to my own ]>lace at twelve o'clock.
I told Major .Tames of what 1 had seen and heard :
in consequence oi" what he said, I went to the
Secretary of State about one, or half-past one
o'clock that day.

(Jross-examined by I\Ir. Curwood. — 1 am a
bricklayer by trade. 1 never, before tlie month
of February, saw Davidson. Davidson intro-
duced me to Tliistlewood on the ninth of that
month. They did not know me, and 1 did not
know them, yet I was let into their secrets on
the morning of the 23d of February. I have
lived fifteen years in the parish of j\Iary-le-bone,
with a good character, and yet all of a sudden a
band of traitors intrusted me with their traitorous
designs. I told them that it was a hard thing
to inveigle men into a scheme like theirs, and
doubted wdiether I should be able to accomplish
it. 'I'liough 1 expressed this doubt, I was sent
10 the Foundling Hospital to take the arms. 1
acceded to their proposal at the time, but had
no intention of executing it. I do not know a
man of the name of Iluuglestone. I never was
in a court before, except on the trial of a woman
for stealing. I was in Ireland at the time of the
rebellion. I cannot tell how old I was then.

(teouge Kay lock examined by Mr. Littledale.
I live at 22, Cato-strcet. 1 saw Harrison and
another against the stable-door in Cato-slreet, at
five o'clock on the 23d February. I asked
Harrison how he did. Ho replied, ])retty well ;
he had taken two rooms there, and was going to
do lliem up. lietween Hve and seven o'clock I
saw more than twenty peo})le go in at the stable-
door.

Rich aud Aioxdav examined by Mr. Lit-
tledale.— I live at Co, Cato-slreet. About twenty
minutes after four, on (he 23d, as 1 was coming
from mv work, I saw Davidson standing" under

17G rATO-STRKF.T CONSPIRACY.

the archway. I knew Davidson, from seemg- liini
with Firth, the cow-keeper. I went home and
got my tea. I came out again at twenty minutes
past five, and went to a pubUc-house. On leaving
it, I saw Davidson going into No. 1 for a hght.
In going into the stable, into which Harrison ad-
mitted him, he stooped for a bundle, and I then
observed that he had two belts on, one across his
shoulder, and the other round his waist; in that
round his waist, on the left side, two pistols were
inserted ; on the other a sword was suspended,
which jutted out considerably. The place where
they met is a stable, belonging to General Wat-
son ; it has lately been used as a cow-house by
Firth. There is a chaise-house, and a stable
below, and a loft, with two rooms above. One
of these rooms has a window, the other is dark.
I observed, in the course of the afternoon, that
something like a coarse matting was hung over
the windows, and the partition in the stable-
yard.

Elizabeth Westall. — I live at No. 1, Cato-
street. About three o'clock I saw a man go into
the stable with a sack on his shoulder. About
six o'clock I went out, and saw a man of colour
standing by the stable. 1 was much alarmed by
that circumstance, thinking that the stable was
unoccupied. I was out ten minutes. Shortly
after I returned, the man of colour came into my
house, and asked me for a light. I gave him a
light. He then went back to the stable where I
had seen him at first.

George Rutiiven, the police-officer, was then
examined by Mr. Bolland.

I went, on the 23d of February, to Cato-street,
Three others were to meet me there. When we
were all assembled we were about twelve of us.
I went into the stable, and saw a man with a
sword by his side, and a blunderbuss on his
shoulder. I saw one man below, and 1 liavo

iRiAi. OT Tui^ I [.F\roori. 17/"

some faint recollection that I saw another. The
whole of my party followed me into the stable.
On seeing the man with the hlinulcrbuss on his
shoulder, I told some of the party to secure him.
I went up a ladder, which led to a loft.

When I got there I saw several men; heard the
clattering of arms, and saw swords and pistols.
Three or four of my party went up with me. I
am sure that Kll's and Smithers were v/ith me.
From the view which I had of the place, I think
there were 24 or 25 persons present. The size
of that room is 15 feet, live one way, and ten feet
ten the other. There are two rooms adjoining
this, separated by doors. When I got into the
room, I said, " we are officers; seize their arms."
I saw in the room Thistlcwood, whom I have
known for four or five years.

Tliistlewood was standing-, at the tinie we en-
tered, at the right hand side of the table, near the
door of the little room. On my saying, " We
are officers," he seized a sword, which was drawn,
and retreated to the little room. The sword was
a very long one, and rather bright. He stood in
the entry of the door I'encing, to prevent any one's
approach. Smithers a})proached him. Thistle-
wood stabbed him, and Smithers fell, saying,
" Oh, my God ! I'm done," or something to that
effect. Somebody from the corner of the room
where Thistlcwood stood said, *' Put out the

lights — kill the b rs, and throw them down

stairs." The lights were then put out ; I joined in
their cry of " kill them," and rushed down stairs.

I did not observe any thing till I got into John-
street, where 1 met the soldiers, whom I brought.
Several shots were fired i'rom the corner of the
room where Thistlcwood was standing; 1 think
down the stairs. On arriving a second time at the
stable, 1 met 'J'idd grappling with one of the mili-
tary. 1 secured him. 1 was aftern-ardN in tlie
pnblic-liouse, (Morse and Groom) and saw Dr.a!-

2 A

i/> {'ATOSrREKl COXSPiriACY.

bum brought in. On him were found six ball-
cartridges and three bails. Davidson and Wilson
were brought in. Davidson sang- a song. I then
went back to the loft, and found there, Shaw
xStrange, Cooper, Monument, and Bradb-irn. I
saw arms in the hands of several persons. I found
two swords and a bag. The bag contained ten
hand-grenades. I also found balls and fusees.
They were brought to Bow-street, and remained
since in possession of an officer. Afterwards I
went to the Horse and Groom. I had seen Cooper
there, with a stick, and Gilchrist came back for it,
but did not get it. 1 observed it cut.

Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus. — Thistle-
wood had not been much out of sight since Wat-
son's trial. Witness had seen him five or six
times. He had a motive for it. It was not for
this purpose, that he was aware of. There were
four or five Edwardses, officers with him, but he
was not aware that Edwards, who had been con-
cerned in this business, was connected with cUiy
of them. He knew nothing further, than that he
was directed to watch Thistlewood.

James Ellis, by the Attorney-General.— Went
with the other officers to Cato-street on the P.Sd of
February ; he went in immediately after Rulhven.
He saw two men, one having on two cross-belts ;
either m his right or left holding a carbine, in the
other a sword. Witness observed, that he was
a man of colour. The other person was bctvv'een
the foot of the ladder and the stall next to it, for
there were three. He followed Ruthven up as
close as he could. The man of colour said some-
thing ending with "■ men." He heard the men
above rushing back behind the carpenter's table,
and a noise like fencing with swords. There
might be twenty or twenty-five men. Ruthven
said, " Wc are officers, seize their arms, or sur-
render your arms."

Witness had not known Thistlewood before,

TiUAf, or I iii^ I r.iAvovtu. 1 ' [)

but he was satisfied it w;is he who menaced with
the sword. Witness had before held forward his
staff of oliiee ; he now presented a pistol, and de-
sired him to desist, or he would fire. Smithers
then g-ained the top of the ladder, and advaneed
towards the little room. ThistlewocKl struck hiiu
with the sword near the breasi. Smitltors k\l
back, held up his hands, and exclaimed, " C),
God !" Witness fired on Thistlewootl, and Smi-
thers staggered towards him. The candlis were
put out, and the witness was forced down. He
stood at the door to the street. Several shots
were fired : some balls passed him. On going (jut
he heard a cry. !>aw a man running towards
Queen-street, with belts on. He secured liim. It
was Davidson, the man of colour. lie had a car-
bine m the one hand, and a sword in the other.
He aftef^vards assisted in securing: four, to whom
he could not speak positively.

Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood. — He w;is a
constable, and had the warrant. He had a ))arl in
conducting the oiiieers; but Mr. Kutluen was
there.

Wrrr.fAM V/i'.stcott liad part in conducting
the })atrol at Brrw-street, and was a constable.
He was down in the stable the whole time, and
heard firini:; (>n the loft. He saw Inus in the
stai^le, who wanted to rush out, while the other
olheers were up. A\'ituess and In^-s had a
contest. There was terrible confusion in tlie
loft ; some c^'uie tumbling d(Avn, and some sinuly.
He knew Thistlewood. There was a light.
Thistlewood hred at v.itness. Three holes were
in his hat ijy })alls. Witness rushed towards
Thistlewood, v/hen he v.as struck down. This-
tlewood then niade a cut at hum with a sword, and
ran out. \\'itness was wounderl in the back of his
hand with one of the balls, as he had held up his
hand to protect his heail.

Hi:gh \ixov. (Uic of the f5ow-strcet otiire:.-.

180 CATO-STREET COXSPIllACY.

saw Iluthven, Ellis, and the deceased go up the
ladder. He went up, and saw Ellis fire. There
was a rush down, and he saw a man fire a pistol ;
he rather believed it was Thistlewood. Ings was
pursued and brou<2ht back. Witness found a
sword in the stable, and a bayonet up stairs.

John Wrigut, a patrol of Bow-street, was
one of the officers who went to Cato-street. They
mustered at the Horse and Groom. He saw
Cooper having a broom-stick, and another coming
to drink beer. Cooper left the stick. Witness
took a sword and a knife from a man who was in
the stable, near a stall. That moment he was
knocked down, and received a stab in his side.
Wilson and Bradburn were afterwards taken.
Witness found about two dozen ball-cartridges in
Wilson's pocket, and a pair of scissors ; and
found two haversacks on his sides.

William Charles Brookes, a patrol, being
directed by Mr. Birnie towards persons passing,
saw Ings, and a person in front of him with a
cutlass, and spoke to them. Ings fired, and
slightly wounded him on the shoulder. Witness
staggered into the road. Ings went off towards
the Edgware-road, Witness pursued. [ngs
threw away the pistol. Moy took him. Witness
asked him why he had fired at him, a man whom
he had never seen. He said, " I wish I had killed
you."

Ings. — " Pray, my Lord, am I not allowed to
ask any question ?"
, Court. — " You are not on your trial at present."

Witness stated, that two haversacks, a knife-
case, and a tin box, three parts full of powder,
were found on Ings.

Giles Moy confirmed this evidence, so far as
he was concerned.

Robert Chapman, one of the Bow-strcct offi-
cers, went to Cato-street ; saw Ings in the stable,
and heard him say, "Look out, above." Witness,

TRIAL OF TIIISTLEWOOD. 181

in the watch-house, took from Ings a knife-case,
two balls, dXid a pistol-key. He saw one running
through the stable with a sword in his hand.

Captaix Fitzclarexce appeared on the right
of the bench, and said, he was a lieutenant in the
Coldstream Guards ; he went with a piquet to
John-street on the 23d of February, about eight
in the evening. On hearing reports of pistols,
they went to Cato-street. He was directed by a
police-officer to the stable. He met two men at
the door : the man on his right cut at him with a
sword, the other man presented a pistol. He got
in and seized a man, who called out, " Don't kill
me, and I will tell you all." He gave him in
charge, and then secured another man in one of
the stalls. On going up stairs, he secured three,
four, or five persons. He fell against the body
of poor Smithers, who was lying dead. He saw
several arms.

Samuel Tauntox, a Bow-street officer, went
to Brunt's lodi^ings, searched the front and back
rooms, and ibund two baskets. Brunt, who was
in the front room, and had been previously taken
into custody, said, he k'lew nothing of the
baskets. The room did not belong to him in
which they were; it v/as the back room. In the
same room there was a ])ike-staif and an iron pot.
Witness sent lor the landlady, iVIrs. Rogers. She
said, her niece had let the back-reborn to a man
she did not know. Brunt said, it was a man at
the ])ublic-housc, and he rlid not kn.ow his name.

Witness then went to Tidd's, in tlie llole-in-the-
Wail passage, near Gray's lun-lane. There he
found a box full of ball-cartridges, 065 in num-
ber ; he found ten grenades, ami a great ([uantity
of gunpowder. He found, in haversacks, 434
balls, lie found u]<o sixi-y-nine ball-cartridges, and
about eleven bugs of gunpowdei'. one pound each.
The grenades were in a wrapper. In one of the
baskets at Brunt's were nine papers of rope-yarn

1S2 CATO-STREET CONSPIUACV.

and tar ; in the other, three of the same, two
flannel bags of powder, one pound each, and five
empty bags, a paper of powder, one leathern bag,
with three balls in it. They were all here.

Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus. — This was
on the 24th. Brunt had been in custody before.
Tidd was absent.

Daniel Bishop, a Bow-street officer, went on
the morning of the 24th, with other officers, to
apprehend Thistlewood, about ten in the morning,
to Whitecross-street, Moorfields. The house ^Yas
kept by Harris. He received a key from I\Irs.
Harris, which opened a ground-floor. There he
saw Thistlewood, who thrust his head from under
the clothes in bed ; the shutters were shut. Wit-
ness told his name and business, and, having a
sword in one hand, and a staff in the other, threw
himself on the bed. Thistlew^ood said, he would
make no resistance. He had his breeches on, in
the pockets of which they found two balls, two
cartridges, and some flints. They also found a
small silk sash.

Cros.s-ex?.mined. — A m.an of the name of Ed-
wards did not go, nor any who knew where This-
tlewood was.

Lave.vbeh produced and identified the belt
found in Thisilewood's coat-pocket.

Ruth vex produced the pike-statf, grenades,

All the soldiers and othcers who had any of the
articles seized were now arranged behind the
witness-box, and handed to Ruthven their several
charges, and Ruthven laid them on the table.
A pike was screwed on a sta(f, and handed to tlie
Jury. Ihe whole of the frightful apparatus was
now exposed to view. Guns, blunderbusses, car-
bines, swords, pistols, pikes, sticks, cartridges,
bullets ; even the pot in which the tar was boiled,
— all were produced and idcntiiied.

Tlie fue-anns remained loaded till jtroduccd

rni \l. 0^■ T HIST I.F.WOOD. lt^3

on this occasion, wlien the chari^es were drawn;
thev were loaH'-d witii halL One ol' the arenades
liad been Lriven to a person by an order of Colon.el
ConLireve to be oxamiiied. The production of
InL,^s's knife excited an invobantary shudder ; it
was a broad desperate-hiokinur weaj)o}i.

The Jury inspected the arms separateb/, and
})articularly the pikes, the construction and ibr-
niation of which have ab'eady been minutely
described. The whole had a most formidable
aj)pearance.

John nECTOR Moiiuisox, servant to Mr. Un-
derwood, cutler, in Drury-lane, was re-called, and
looked at two swords, which, he said, were the
same he had j^Tound for ln<^s.

Serjeant ]m)ward IIaxsox, of the Koyal Artil-
lery, examined by ^.Ir. Gurney. — I examined one
of tlie g-renades produced to me at Bow-street ;
it is com[)osefl ot' a tin case, in the form of a
barrel, in wliich a tube is soldered. The case
contains ihrc*.' on.nces and a half of L;-nn})owde''.
The primiivLt' iii the tube is a composition of salt-
|)etre, powder, and. brinist(.me. The tin was
|)itched, and wrapped round with rope-yarn,
v.'hich was ceinen:ed with rosin and tar. Round
t'ne tin, and in tlie rope-yarn, twelve pieces of
iron were ):lahted. I'rom t!ie lii,diting of the fusee
to the explosion might take a,boiit half a minute.
If one of them were to be evpioded in a room
where there were a number ot' persons, it would
produce grt^at destruction. The piei'vs of iron
would fly al)out like IjuUets.

n'h.<;' witness here ()|)ened another of the gre-
nades for the s;>tisfictioi; of the Jury ; ii was
composed in the nv-mner aheady cK'scnbed. The
pieces of iron principally consisted of old cart-
nails, such as the tires oi' wlucls are nailed on
with. The carcase, or tin-case, was wrapjied in
an old stockinj,'-, and tli ^ powder which it contained
w'rt< ■j-)ronounecd verv o.ood.]

184 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

Witness, in continuation. — I examined one oi
tlie fire-balls ; it consisted of oakum, tar, rosin,
and stone-brimstone, pounded. Ifone of these
was thrown into a house, and alighted on wood,
it would be sure to set it on fire. The effect
would be still more certain on straw or luiy.

The Attorney-General. — " T4iat is the case, my
Lord, on the part of the Crown.

THE DEFENCE.

Mr, CuRwooD now rose to address the Jury on
the part of the prisoner. He commenced by stat-
ing, " That if it were consistent with a sense of
moral and professional duty, he would not liave
stood there to address them. It was one of the
characteristics of the profession to which he had
the honour to belong, however, and one which
perhaps reflected upon it the greatest credit, that
they were not at liberty to refuse their assistance
to persons in the situation of tlie unfortunate man
at the bar. No man could feel more impressed
than himself with the sense of the great and
weighty duty he had to perform. He felt that the
unhappy prisoner had a right to call upon him to
do his duty boldly and fearlessly, and without any
consideration for the Government who were the
prosecutors on this occasion ; he felt also that he
had a duty to perform to his country, by assisting
in the administration of the law, and not by any
power which he possessed, if he did possess such
power, to endeavour to pervert that law. He
owed something too, to his own fair fame, which
was all, his only inheritance.

" With these feelings pressing upon him, lie
might truly say, he was placed in a trying and
critical situation. It was fit on an occasion of this
sort, that they should know something of the man
])y whom they were addressed. It could not be

Tlii.VJ. OF THIS7LF.W00L). 185

denied that the iinfuitunate transactions, to which
their attention had been so painfully directed, had
arisen out ot" that state of the country which they
must all alike lament and deplore. It was clear
also, that while they had attachments to certain
parties, prejudices would arise which it w^as out of
their power to control in favour of the sentiments
of those parties. \\'ith respect to himself, although
like every other Englishman, he had his feelings
upon certain points, yet he never belonged to any
particular party, nor was he in the habit of at-
tending political meetings. With respect to Go-
vernment, he never had received any place or ap-
pointment from them, nor was it likely that he
should. In the present instance, therefore, he had
1)0 motive to influence him in doing his duty,
or at least in endeavouring to do it fairly and
honestly.

" It was due to his Learned Friends and to
himself to state, that in consequence of the late-
ness of the moment in which they were called
upon to undertake this arduous task, not having
received their instructions till a late hour on
Thursday, that the difficulties with which they
liad to cope were ot no ordinary kind; and these
difficulties became the more formidable, when it
was recollected that they had arrayed against them
the most distinguished talents which it was in the
])ower of the Crown to procure — talents not a
little aided by the advantage of study, and of a
mature consideration of all the facts of the case
which they were called upon to discuss. No
doubt, in the notice which they (the .Jury) had
given to the Attorney-General, when he opened
this case, they had not failed to oi)serve, and he
had observed it with unfeigned surprise, iliat he
had not ^'lutcd to tiiein precisely what were the
jjoinls which tluy were called upon to try. He
iiud iiii'a'ed stated that it was a prowecution for
liiiili treason, but he had onlv dehned what was

18G CATO-STllEET CONSPIUACV.

the quality of the treason which he meant to
impute.

*' Unfortunately, there was mixed up with this
transaction a great deal for which the prisoner
might hereafter be answerable, and which was
calculated to make a deep impression on the minds
of the Jury ; but whatever was their opinion upon
the moral guilt of the prisoner, if, upon a review
of the evidence, they should not be of opinion
that he had committed the precise offence charged
in the indictment, it was their duty to pronounce
a verdict of Not Guilty. It therefore devolved
upon him to state precisely what they had to try ;
it was not merely a question of high treason, but a
question of a particular species of high treason.

" The indictment was very long, and contained
many things which, in the language of the law,
were called overt acts. They were not, however,
because a great body of evidence had been given
to them, to jump at the conclusion, that the sub-
stantive treason alleged had been committed. The
sorts of treason charged were four in number : the
first was founded upon the late statute of the 36th
of the King, for conspiring to depose his majesty
from his imperial style and dignity. It was now
nearly 400 years since that statute, to which
Englishmen had been wont to look with veneration
as a protection for the dearest rights of man — he
meant the statute of Edw. III. — had been passed.
There, among other treasons set forth, was the
conspiring to take away, or the compassing and
imagining, or intending to compass or imagine the
King's death — but there had subsequent treasons
started up. There was now another Act of Par-
liament in existence, which embraced not merely
the compassing and imagining the King's death ;
but the conspiring to depose him from his imperial
style and dignity. It was also treason to conspire
to levy war against his majesty. This was the
question then wliicli they had to try.

TRIAL OF THISTLE wool). 18?

** First, had the prisoners at the bar conspired
or imagined the death of the King ; secondly, had
they conspired to depose his Majesty from his im-
perial style and dignity ; thirdly, had they con-
spired to levy war against the King ; and lastly,
had they actually levied war against the King ?
He apprehended that they must be satisfied that
one or other of these charges was proved, before
they could find a verdict of guilty.

" Before he came to these topics, they would
look to the probability of the evidence which had
been laid before them. The great mass which
had been adduced certainly led them to conclude
that a conspiracy of some kind had existed ; but
it did not follow that the substantive treason
charged in the indictment had therefore been
committed. It did not follow, as a matter of
course, that the removal of the administration of
the King must be succeeded by the deposition of
the Monarch himself. Let them go by steps.
There was continually in Parliament one party
endeavouring to remove another ; that was to say,
endeavouring to remove the existing administra-
tion. He would admit, probably with the best
intentions.

" Would it be contended, that this removal
of an administration was necessarily connected
with the deposition of the Monarch, and
that every man who attempted to eftect such a
purpose would be involved in the crime of high
treason ?

" Again, other men might think it necessary
that an administration should be removed by
violence ; and this too with the most virtuous
intentions. He desired not to be misunder-
stood, as meaning under that plea to justify as-
sassination. Nothing was further from his feel-
ings ; but all he meant to argue was, that they must
not take it as a necessary consequence that the
death or destruction of a whole administration

2 li 2

188 CATO-STREET COXSPIRACY.

involved the death or deposition of the King.
If they (the Jury) w^ere of opinion that it did not
invoh^e such a consequence, the evidence on this
occasion did not support the substantive treason
laid in the two first divisions of the indictment.

" There were two other treasons, however ;
one was the conspiracy to levy war against his
Majesty; and the other, the actual levying of
war. Now he called upon them to look to the
evidence, and see whether they could draw from
that a fair inference, that there was a conspiracy
to levy war, and that what had been done
amounted to an actual levying of war. In the
detail given by the first witness, Adams, who in
fact proved the whole case — he thought there
was much more for ridicule, than for serious con-
sideration. In his opinion, the testimony of this
man was utterly incredible, independent ot the
fact of his being an accomplice.

*' The Attorney-General had told them that an
accomplice was a necessary witness ; but though
necessary, he was not of necessity to be believed.
The more atrocious the guilt in which he had
steeped himself, the less worthy he was of credit ;
and where a most atrocious and wicked witness
came to tell them a tale, not only improbable, but
most ridiculous in itself, would they not at once
dismiss him from their notice ?

*' It often happened, that those who were the
most ingenious in devising and promoting mischief,
were the first to become informers ; and that this
was the case in the present instance, he should
be enabled to prove. They would, however,
consider the evidence which had been given by
Adams to support the fact of there having been a
conspiracy to levy war against the King. They
would lay out of their consideration for a moment
all that had been said of the assassination of his
Majesty's Ministers ; and they would consi-
der the evidence as it had been given by him

TRIAL OF TIirSTLEWOOD. 18^'

to support that conspiracy. They had here every*
thing to raise their passions.

" They had all the materials and preparations
for war before them (the arms on the table) ; but
what was the result of all the discussions which
took place at all the meetings of the conspirators
from the 4th of February, in which the assassi-
nation of his Majesty's Ministers had been re-
peatedly debated t

" In the cross-examination of Adams, it ap-
peared that one of the conspirators, Palin, liad,
with some degree of sense, when all those things
were talked of, asked where the men \\cre to
come from to effect this mighty revolution ? In
one moment his Majesty's Ministers were to be
assassinated ! — a detachment was to go and take
possession of two pieces of cannon in Gray's Inn-
lane ! — another detachment was to make a descent
upon the Artillery-Ground ! — a third party Mere
to seize the Mansion-house, as a seat for the Pro-
visional Government ! and yet to effect all this,
what was the actual strength of the conspirators
in its most exaggerated state? ^^'hy, forsooth,
forty men, two old sabres, six shillhigs, and a
reputed pound-note ! ! Where an infamous wit-
ness told them such a story could they believe
it ? — was it credible ? Would they take away
the life of a man under such circumstances? If
it were possible for them to do so, he could only
say that they would be more insensible than the
deluded men themselves.

" Then as to the other point, the actual levying
of war ; what a levymg of war was, he hardly
knew how to define. Lord Hale had said, that
this was a question of fact, which a Jury alone
was capable of deciding. — That learned Judge
had als(j talked of " marching with unfurled ban-
ners, and being furnished with military oiliccrs" —
but where were the unfurled banners here, or
whore the military otHccrs ? — The only niililary

190 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

man they had heard of was one disbanded soldier,
and the purpose to which he was to be applied
was the destruction of his Majesty's Ministers —
an act which, he contended, even if effected, did
not amount to a levying of war. — If they were
told the contrary, he was sure they would
treat such an intimation as absurd and ridiculous.
Where was this great conspiracy concocted? In
a two-pair back room ! Where was the battle
fought ? In a stable ! Where were the traitors
incorporated ? In a hay-loft ! How were they
armed ? With a few rusty swords, halberts, and
old pistols !

" He would put it to the plain common sense
and understanding of the Jury, whether they
would pronounce persons so assembled and so
armed, guilty of levying war against the King?
It was rather a levying war against the constables,
at the very name of whom they trembled. Then,
if there was no levying of war, was there a con-
spiracy to levy war? The only evidence they
had of such a conspiracy came out of the mouth
of those three witnesses who were so far con-
taminated, that it was beyond all doubt they had
themselves been deeply implicated in the pro-
jected assassination of his Majesty's Ministers."

" The question, then, for their consideration
resolved itself into this point: they would con-
sider, even supposing that the assassination of
the Ministers was intended, whether this of ne-
cessity implied that his Majesty was also to be
deposed. If they did not think that the one
must of course follow the other, then their verdict
must be *' Not Guilty." He implored them to
do their duty strictly according to law, to con-
sider what the law of the country was, to step
neither to the right nor to the left, but to come to
a fair and impartial and unprejudiced conclusion.
He implored them to do so, not only for their
own sakcs, but for the sake of the country ; ibr

TRIAL OF THISTI.EWOOD. 191

if once jurymen suffered their feelings of indig-
nation towards one offence to lead them to admit
the existence of another of a different character,
not proved, there would be an end of the due
distinctions of justice. If this man had been
guilty of another offence, there was another in-
dictment against him, on which he must take his
trial if he were acquitted of this : and if he were
convicted under that, he would suffer* the pe-
nalty of the law. But, upon this occasion, he
called upon them not to find him guilty of
High Treason, because they thought him worthy
of death for having incurred the guilt of assas-
sination.

" In conclusion, the learned gentleman said,
he would proceed to call a witness to prove that
Adams, who had been called for the Crown, to-
gether with an accomplice of the name of Ed-
wards, who had not been called, were the persons
who had conveyed the arms and ammunition to
the house of Tidd on the very morning they had
been found there by the Bow-street officers.

Mr. A DO LP II us then proceeded to call the

EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.

Mary Parker examined. — I am the daughter
of Richard Tidd ; I live with my father ; i re-
member the police othcers coming and finding
some boxes and things in our lodgings ; they came
about half-past eight ; those things had been in the
house when they came, about a quarter of an
hour; they were brought that morning; among
liiem were the pike staves ; it was no ()ersoii in my
fathers employment who brought them ; he had
been taken into custody the night l)efore ; I know
a {K'rson of tlie name of Adams : I have seen him
at my iathcr's ; I know a person of the name of
['Edwards ; 1 have also seen him there ; he has been
there often ; 1 have seen similar things before the
officers came; I believe these to be the same

192 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACr.

things ; Edwards took part away ; I do not know
who took the rest ; he took them away on Wed-
nesday ; my father did not take them away ; Ed-
wards did not take away the box ; he only took
away some things that I have since heard were
used ; the box was brought a day or two before
my father was taken ; it never was uncorded ;
Adams brought a large grenade ; I do not know
what Edwards was.

The Attorney-general declined asking this wit-
ness any question.

Edward Hucklestone examined by Mr. Cur-
wood. — I know a man of the name of Dwyer. I
have known him for some years. Latterly I have
known him intimately. I used the same public-
house. I do not think he is to be believed on his
oath.

Cross-examined by the Attorney-General. — I
saw him with plenty of money, and knowing that
he had little or no work, I was surprised. 1 was
in distress. He told me he would put me in the
w^ay to make plenty of money, if I would go with
him. I agreed ; and he proposed that we sliould
charge gentlemen with an unnatural offence. That
he was to go up jfirst, and then I was to join him.
I left him quite shocked. This was about three
months ago. He said he had got ten pounds at a
time from a gentleman in St. James's-street, by
only catching him by the collar, and accusing him.
I met him the next night at the Rodney's-head, and
he called me a coward. I told him of the danger,
and reminded him that his brother had been
transported for the same thing. He said he knew
better how to general it than his brother. I
ought to have communicated it to a magistrate;
but I was afraid of falling a " wictim" to the
Irishmen who lived in the neighbourhood. I have
spoken to him since, I was a shoeiri^ker, but am
now articled to a cow-doctor in Newman-mews.
1 first communicated this to my brotiier, about a

TRl A I. t»K TIllSll,F,\V<)i)l). I !);5

week ago. I did not mention it before, lest f
might be ill-treated, as 1 had to go so much about
among the cows. Some of the Irishmen have gone
away from the neighbourhood now, and that in-
duced me to summon up courage to mention it to
my brother. 1 did go with Dwyer to the Park, but
I was always struck with the horror of the thing.
When I saw tlie names of the witnesses in this
case in the paper, 1 made the conimunication to
my brother.

(The witness was desired not to go out of
Court.)

Mr. Joseph Doane examined by Mr. Adolphus.
— I am called the Court Reporter; I prepare for
the newspapers an account of the movements of
the Court, the cabinet dinners, (^-c. I send the
same accounts to six jiapers, amonii' others to The
New Times, [Looked at the announcement in the
New Times, of the cabinet dinner, on Tuesday the
22d of February.] The intelligence respecting
the Court in this paper I sent. The paragraph
respecting the cabinet dinner, from the wording,
I think I did not send. I think so from the use of
the word " grand ;" cabinet dinners are always
alike, and I do not think I used the word " grand."

AxDiiEw Mitchell : I am printer of The New
Times ; I produce the original of the ])aragraph
respecting the cabinet dinner, announced in The
New Times on the 22d of Febniary.

Mr. Doane recalled : That is n(jt my manu-
script; I always write from a manifold.

Andrew Mitchell : I did not receive that from
Mr. Doane, but from a person of the name of
Lavenue, who furnishes things in the same way.

John Whittakeu : 1 searched in eleven news-
papers of the 22d of February for the annuncia-
tion of a cabinet dinner at Lord Harrowby's, and
in none of those papers was there such an an-
nouncement as that in The New Times.

i c

] fj4 t; A TO STREET <.'0NSP1 R A CV .

The Attoniey-Cieiierai : These paper. •» ought to
be here.

Tije Chief Justice Abbot : Strictly speaking,
they ouf^hl to he here.

The witness : The New Times ah)iie liad the
aununciation of the dinner at Lord Harrovvby's on
the 22d oi" February.

Mr. Auolphus: This is all tiie cadence I intend
to ofi'er on the part <;f the j^risuner.

Mr. (;!urney : ! wish, my Lord, that Dwyer
sliould be again called. — Tlie witness, Dwyer,
was then again put in tlie box, and examined
by Mr. (jiirney: 1 do not knov/ a man of the
name of Hucklestone. — [The witness liiickle-
stone was desired to stand up.} — Dwyer: 1 know
tliat man, but did not know his name was Huckle-
stone. I liave met him in Oxford-road. Not in
a j)ublic-house. 1 never proposed to him to
charge any person with an unnatural offence. In
February last 1 was at work at the parish mill,
and got three shillings. 1 h.ave a wife and
family.

Cross-examined ; I did not know Hucklestone
by name. I saw him wrth other chaps at the
corner of James-street, near where I live; but
I never associated \\\x\\ him. i have seen him
in Hyde-park. 1 never went into a [)u}>lic-house
with him. I resorted to the Uodney's-Head, but
never knew him to resort there. 1 have not
repeatedly met him in a public-house. I don't
know that 1 can swsar I never saw him in a
public-house, i will swear i h.ave not been with
l»im at the Itodney's-Uead within this three
months. I am a bricklayer by trade, and worked
tourteen years for one master.

iMr. Adolphus nov/ entreated permission to be
allow^ed li!) the ensuin:;- day to prepare himself to
address liie Jury o-i tlie part of tiie prisoner.
The state of cxjiaii:^t^3r to which he had been

vttit.KCu, i\s well as t;i( siiortness (;f tiie time "hicli
had elapsed since he hac! ncei^rd his instructions,
and the grctit iniportance ot' the o'utv which lie had to
peithrrn, uhere the ht'e ot" a U '1 iw-crcHture Mas
at stake, the more imperiousiv impelled him to er.-
treat this indulgence, it' consistent with the vieu s of
the Court.

The Ivord Chief .lustice felt the juofnietv of the
ap}>eal, and after some conversation relative to the
convenience of the Juiv, the Court was adjourned till
the foilon-in<; nioiiiini^.

'i'illRD DAY, Wkdnksdav, Aprm, I.q, I8'i0.

Tile Contt opened agam at nine o'clock this
njorning, and a few minutes after Mr. Adoj rMis rose
to address the Jury on helralf of tlie pri-oner, and
t;onimcnced by observing, that '' he could not re-
(juest their iittCiUion to the feeble aiul Innnble
efforts which he was going to make in defence of
the prisoner at the b;ir, witliout returning them iiis
.sincere thanks f)r tlie kind and gracious manner
m which they had conceded to him further time
t'or the preparation of his defence. ender all the
cu'cumstancc s ol" the ease, the biluation in which
he (Air. Adolphus stood was sutricicnlly distresr-
mg ; but itwordd have Ijeen stiil nioic i-oifhe had
i)een (.(rmj^elled to address them ye>terday even
ing with a niass ot cvidenre t'-iaJly undigested,
with a liicniory \\;inderinu' ov-.jr nil. Imu •>iieadiiy
directed to nor.e of t!ie point- \\l;ich !i;;d cc)nie
out durniij; the trial; and williout a;u <;» that sini-
pliiicHtion ui thr ca'-e v.hHi; {■.■: ii.iu been ;d>ie to
effect, thfiUgli inij)ei i'l. etly, in lii" i"; \v ! I'urs '.a hieh,
bv their kiiiuness, he liad berii iih'k <(■ >-ii ,d Irom
sleep.

" The iiiquiiy in whi.h \\\cy Merc tiien (engaged
was a most anxious and iniporumi iiuiuiry : in-
deed, so anxious and so lioportaiu was it that it
was onlv naturpd to expect ib-ii the minds of

^2 c C

lyC CATO-STRKET C'OXSPIKACV.

counsel engaged in conducting it would sink un-
der the heavy task imposed upon them. During
the course of his professional career many trials
similar to the present had taken place : but in
none of them did the parties accused labour under
such dreadful charges as were now brought against
the prisoner at the bar ; in none of them had they
been so totally deprived of all assistance and sup-
port as the unfortunate individual had been on
whose fate they now stood impanelled to decide.

*' To say that he (Thistle wood) had all the
weight of office arrayed against him — to say that
the prosecution was conducted with all the talent
and all the power of Government, was to say
nothing more than that Thistlewood was indicted
for high treason. He (Mr. Adojphus) meant not
to blame the Government for exerting all its ener-
gies in a case like the present ; by no means — the
Crown had, on all occasions, and particularly on an
occasion like this, a right to demand of its best
servants their best services : he only meant to
contrast the difficulties against which Thistlewood
had to contend with those which had surrounded
other unfortunate men in his situation.

" Against the great legal talent which had been
employed against them by the Crown, there had
come forward advocates of high character, and
not inferior ability — advocates who voluntarily
embarked themselves in the cause of their clients
■ — gave up their whole time and attention to their
interests, methodized and simplified the evidence
necessary to maintain them, and entered tlie
Court ])repared to meet the case brought forward
by the Crown on every one oi" its points and bear-
ings. ^

*' Var different was the case of the unhappy
man then standing at their bar.

" On tile evening previous to his trial he was
scarcely ac(juaintcd with the name of the counsel
wlio was to (IcfcMul him : and tluil counsci liad

Till A 1, or riiibrLEwoon. Ij)7

scarcely more caiiy information ol" the grounds on
which ins defence was to be rested. He (Mr.
Adolphus) could assure them that he was only
chosen counsel for Thistlewood on Thursday last;
that unavoidable business had ke])t him out of
town during the whole of Friday ; and tliat he had
appeared before them on the Monday with such
information as he could collect in the interim.
He deplored this circumstance, but he could not
complain of it. His want of ability and prepara-
tion was not, however, the only circumstance
which rendered Thistlewood's case more desperate
than that of the individuals who had formerly been
placed in his situation. Many of them had been
allied with, or supported by, men of power, and
rank, and influence in the country. Thistlewood,
on the contrary, was aided by no party, was sup-
ported by no subscription, but was deserted by
men of every class and party in the community.
He (Mr. Adolphus) had received no assistance, no
information, no instructions, from him ; all that
he knew of the case v/as derived from the ma-
terials which the solicitor, the gratuitous solicitor
for the defence (Mr. Harmer), iiad been able to
collect within the last few days,

" Besides these circumstances was another still
more extraordinary and unfortiuiate. iVt the state
trials of ITQi, whoever was discharged by a ver-
dict of liis countrymen was discharged at once
from all further ])rosecution; and with the inqiiiry
of that Court ended all inquiry into his conduct.

" This man, Tllistle^^'0()d, however, was so
beset, that, even though he obtained at their hands
a verdict of acc[uittal upon this charge, he }»ad to
mulergo a similar trial u]K)n other indictments :
indeed he (Mr. Adolphus) did not hesitate to say
that he (Tliistlewood) was surrounded by every
danger which could possibly environ the life of a
single individual. It a|)peared as if this melan-
cliolv choice alone were left liini, whether he would

I|i8 CArO-STHKEr rONSriKACY.

have the execution of his sentence end with the
severing of his head from his body, or whether he
would have his body given up after his execution
to the dissecting knife of the surgeon. If his guilt
were of such a nature as to demand that penalty
to be added to the others inflicted by the law, he
had only himself to blame for it: far was it from
his (Mr. Adolphus's) intention to palliate his con-
duct upon that point : the only reason which he
had for even alluding to it was to implore them to
place out of their consideration every circum-
stance which was not connected with the subject
of their present in\estigation, and which had not
been brought regularly before them in the course
of the trial.

" The Attorney-General had made the same re-
quest to them, and it had well become his cha-
racter and legal knosvledge to do so. It was not
less his duty as a man and as a Christian, than as
a high officer of the Crown, to give them that ad-
vice : for, bound as he was to protect the interests
of the Crown, he was not less bound not to exer-
cise his power in wantonly running down those
subjects, who were living under its fostering
care and protection. Made, then, as this request
liad been made to them by the Attorney-Gene-
ral, he (Mr. Adolphus) could not iielp repeatmg
it ; for he was well aware how difhcult it w^as to
dismiss from the mind tlie impressions of ill-will
and dislike which were naturally conceived against
any one who was, or ever had been, the subject ol
general reprobation.

" On occasions like the present a man's usual
convictions stole into his mind, in spite of himself:
It therefore became them to be doubly on their
guard, and to view the case then under their con-
sideration as if they liad never heard the name of
Tiiistlewood before, and as if they had never re-
reived any other inlbmiation tfian that which liad
cfimc under tlieii nfitiee in the course ot ilie tiial.

it!i \ r I)!' ril!->rj,r,\v'(»rti>. I *)0

upon which, aiul npon whicli aU)ne, they were
sworn to give tlieir verdict. He agreed witli the
Attorney-Cieneral that the present was a ca.se of
mhiiite importance ; not, however, to the })nsoner
at the bar merely, wliose life was at a stake, (in-
deed ill that point ot view it was of less importance
than in any other) but also to the state and to all
posterity.

'•'It was of importance to the state that verdicts
should be given upon strict evidence alone, and
not upon t'avourable or unfavourable impressions
conceived by the Jury regarding the party on
his trial. It was of importance also to posterity ;
because if, as ag-ainst a bad man, a certain kind
of evidence should now be allowed to procure
conviction, it would, in time, be also allowed to
procure conviction ag-ainst a good one : and, in
that case nobody could tell whose fame might not
be impeached, whose property might not be
injured, whose life might not be destroyed, by
the same kind of evidence as had been produced
on this trial; evidence which ought never to have
the credence of any jury, or the sanction of any
court.

" It was not, therelbre, so much for the value of
Tiiistlewood's life (though God forbid that he
should undervalue the lil'e of any man) as for the
value of a precedent in a case of treason, that he
was then contending ; for if a charge of high
treason could be substantiated against any Bri-
tish subject on such evidence as had just been ad-
duced there would be an end to all our well-founded
boasts of the excellence of our law regarding high
treason. Such an event, however, lie, lor one,
did not anticipate, when he recollected with what
care the law of treason had been guarded by the
legislature, and with what caution -executed by
our juries, ever since the period of its first insti-
tution. Nor was such caution, vigilance, and
v'orreetJies-'. as had bi^en nlwavs exhibited bv our

200 CATO-STREET CONSPIKACY.

juries, wdtli some few exceptions, and those in bad
times, unnecessary or uncalled-for.

" An accusation of high treason was a fearful
accusation. In all other criminal cases, from a
simple assault up to a murder, the King- though
not the real, was the ostensible prosecutor: in a
case of high treason, however, the King was not
merely the ostensible but also the real prosecutor ;
he was directly arrayed against the prisoner, and
therefore it was the imperative duty of the Jury
to see that the subject was not oppressed. The
present case of high treason was as important as
any of those which had ever preceded it; and the
Jury ought, therefore, to be peculiarly careful
not to allow one tittle of evidence to weigh with
them which had not been admitted on former oc-
casions, and, if they had any doubts with regard
to its admissibility, ought to lean to the prisoner,
and not to the Crown, however interested they
might be in its preservation, and the preservation
of its authority.

" He had before had occasion to state to them,
that the defence of the prisoner at the bar had
come to him, in the course of his professional
business, as an enforced duty. He had not sought
it; he had not refused it; indeed, as an advocate, he
could do neither one nor the other. Standing,
however, as he did, in that Court, as the advocate,
the unfee'd, and therefore, in some respect, the
voluntary advocate of the prisoner Thistlewood,
he deemed it right (unnecessary and improper as
it might be on any other occasion for an advocate
to press his own political opinions on the Jury)
to state that, during the whole of his life he
had never given his assent to any proposition tend-
ing to change the constitution, as established at
the Revolution, either in church or state. He
had been born a subject of his late most gracious
Majesty ; to him, whilst alive, he had paid a

TRIAL OF TFIISTLEWOOD. '201

subject's loyal obedience. He was now a subject
of his present most gracious Majesty, and the
allegiance which he had paid to the father he
willingly transferred, as his due to the son.

" To the questions which had lately agitated
the country, he had never lent himself for a
single moment ; on the contrary, he had always
opposed, to the utmost of his power, every de-
sign of faction and innovation. Thus much he
thought it necessary to state in the peculiar
situation in which he stood ; but making as he
had that declaration of his political principles, he
also felt, both as a man and as an Englishman,
that he had a strong principle to advance and es-
tablish in this defence ; and he therefore trusted
that, if any persons were present who felt an in-
terest in the fate of the prisoner, they would not
think that he would relax, in his efforts on his
(Thistlewood's) behalf, on account of the differ-
ence of their political opinions. If any thought
that he would relax, he was sorry that they
should entertain such an opinion of him: he would,
however, use every exertion to make a fair defence
for the prisoner : if it were not conducted with
ability, it would be not from want of intention,
but from want of ability, which would be the
prisoner s misfortune as well as his own.

" The learned Counsel then proceeded to ob-
serve, that the line of defence which he found it
necessary to pursue was the most difficult which
it had ever fallen to the lot of an advocate to
make good ; and he should here be deficient in
respect to the good sense and talent of the jury,
if he pretended to assert that the prisoner at
the bar was perfectly guiltless. He was afraid
that it was but too evident that he (Thistlewood)
and those with whom he was connected had medi-
tated assassination, a crime which was little less
horrible than the commission of it. He did not

2 D

202 CATO-STREET LONsrmACV.

intend to palliate Thistle wood's conduct in doing
so — far from it : it was a crime not to be pal-
liated : the very blood recoiled from it — the best
feelings of human nature revolted against it, and
the indignation and execration of society always
followed it. Still he thought it possible that
Thistlewood, though he might be guilty of mur-
der and the other crimes imputed to him in the
various [indictments, might not be guilty of high
treason. Unless, therefore, he was fully and
clearly! proved to be so, it was their duty to ac-
quit him ; and in so acquitting him, in spite of all
the odium and prejudice which surrounded him,
they would be doing honour to themselves, and
benefit to their posterity.

" He was not weak enough to say this in
any hope that, by flattering them, he should obtain
their verdict ; he should be sorry to obtain it
on such terms; for if they gave a verdict for
him against the evidence, they would be doing
no honour to themselves, and a great injury to
their posterity. He had once thought of stating
to them, at some length, the nature of the law
of treason, but he had afterwards found reason to
change his opinion, it having been suggested to
him that the law on that subject would come bet-
ter to them from the Court. IJe should therefore
proceed, before he entered into a minute examina-
tion of the evidence (on the general nature of it he
had already made some comments) to state to
them the nature of the indictment.

" They had heard the indictment read over
to them, and would have perceived, unacquainted
as they wxrc with the technicalities of the law,
that tlve same ofience was charged against the
prisoner, though somewhat varied in terms. There
were lour chaiges, or counts, to which he parti-
cuhirly wished to call their attention ; there were
to each of these ten or eleven overt acts, nil of

TRIAL or THISILEWOOD. 203

which, It had been said, must be considered as
shewing- the intention with which the prisoner had
acted.

*' The prisoner was cliar<2:cd, in the first count,
witli " compassing, imagining, inventing, devis-
ing, and intending to deprive and depose our
Lord the King, from the style, honour, and kingly-
name of the imperial crown of this realm.'' The
overt acts stated in the indictment were, con-
s})iringto assassinate several of the Privy-Council;
procuring large quantities of arms with intent to
assassinate them ; as also to subvert and destroy
the constitution as by law established; issuing
proclamations to the King's subjects containing
solicitations to aid and assist them in makin*;
and levying insurrection; and various other acts
specified therein. Before, however, they found
the prisoner guilty upon this count; they ought to
be convinced that 'the intention to depose the
King existed previously, and not subsecpiently,
to the commission of these overt acts. For though
they should be perfectly convinced that the pri-
soner had gone to Lord Harrowby's house with
the hitention of killing the King's ministers, that
fact alone did not render him guilty of high
treason: it was necessary that a treasonable inten-
tion should be first proved to exist.

" To meditate the assassination of a privy-
councillor v/as certainly a crime of great magni-
tude, and by 3 Ilcn. VIL cap. 14., had been made
a felony ; and by a later statute, that of 9th
Anne, cap. 1(), to assault or attempt to kill one
in the execution of his olHce was made a felony,
witlKjut benefit of elergy. Thus it was clear that
to kill a privy-councillor was not in itself an act
of high treas(jn, unless it were coupled with other
acts tending to j-jrovc a treasonable intention pre-
viously existing in the mind of the ])risoner. They
must, thererore, before they brought in a verdict
of guihy auainst him, be convinced of one of

■2 i) 2

204) CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

these four points : either that he did intend to de-
prive and depose our Lord the King from the
style, honour, and kingly name of the imperial
crown of this realm ; or that he did intend to ex-
cite rebellion and insurrection within this realm,
in order to subvert the government ; or that he
did intend to levy war against the King, in
order, by force and restraint, to compel him to
change his measures and councils ; or that he did
intend, with force and arms, to effect those pur-
poses.

" These were the points which must be esta-
blished before they could find the prisoner at the
bar guilty of high treason ; and what was the
evidence produced to establish them? He did
not hesitate to affirm, that never was evidence so
weak tendered to prove charges so heinous. It
was contradictory, it was inadmissible, it was
incredible, coming from any quarter, but still
more incredible, coming, as it did, from men
destitute of all character, avowedly engaged in
a conspiracy to effect a hideous murder, and
therefore men of such a description as ought
never to be allowed by their oaths to bring the
life of man into danger at all. Before he proceeded
any further, it would be requisite to call their
attention to the degree of credit which ought to
belong to an accomplice. The Attorney-General,
in calling an accomplice as witness, had stated
that he was to be believed, whenever he was
supported by other collateral evidence. On this
doctrine he would not comment just at present,
but would content himself with observing, that
it must be clear to all of them that the whole
charge of high treason rested in this case solely
on the evidence of an accomplice. For if the
testimony of Adams were to be dismissed from
their notice, there was not a single syllable said
by all the other witnesses who had been pro-
duced, (so loosely indeed had they supported the

TRIAL or THISTLEWOOD, '205

testimony of Adams) tending to convict Thistle-
wood of high treason.

" The question then came to this point, whether
a charge of high treason ought to be considered
as made out, which rested solely on the testimony
of an accomplice, and an accomplice, too, like
Adams. He maintained that it ought not, for if
Adams were believed, no witness could hereafter
be rejected as unworthy of credit, and conse-
quently no man's life or honour could be consi-
dered secure. *' An accomplice," however, con-
tinued the Attorney-General, not indeed in thos(3
very words, but in words to that eliect, " ought
not to be expected to receive support on everv
point which he mentions in evidence, because if
he were to receive such support, there would be
nq reason to call him at all."

" It was true that the evidence of an accom-
plice might be believed under certain circum-
stances, that is, when he was supported by other
more respectable witnesses ; but then he must
not be supported by only a few witnesses, but by
all the witnesses which could be called to confront
him. He would even go so far as to say that
those who availed themselves of the evidence of
an accomplice were bound to produce every
witness acquainted with the facts to which he
swore, not merely those who could support, but
even those who were likely to contradict them.
These persons were the solemn gages of his
truth, and like witnesses to the signature of deeds,
ought to be called forward for the common good
of all parties. This was n(;t merely his opinion,
but the opinion of many eminent lawyers who
had gone before him. Indeed he had read an
opinion of one of them in a book, which he could
not with propriety mention there ; an opinion
which was so much in unison with his own, though
much more forcibly expressed, that he could not
omit the o})portunity of reading it to them. The

206 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

argument in it was clear and satisfactory, and the
law was not more accurately laid down than it
was forcibly expressed. The passage to which
he alluded was as follows :

" ' An accomplice may be a witness; even uncon-
firmed, he is a witness competent to be heard,' — A
witness of the most infamous character, unless he
has been actually convicted of certain specific
crimes, and the record is brought into Court, may
indeed be heard ; but it is for you, gentlemen,
to determine what degree of credit you will give
to his evidence. Let him be heard ; let him be
examined ; I thank them for calling this witness :
1 thank them for submitting him to the admirable
cross-examination of my learned friend : I thank
them for stopping certain subjects of inquiry ;
all this must satisfy you, that no reliance can be
placed upon his testimony. I am sure, that if
this were a case not of the immense importance
which it is ; but if it were a suit instituted to
decide the smallest question of civil right, that
you would not attend or give the slightest
credence to such evidence. But in a case of this
nature and of this magnitude, in a criminal case,
in a case of treason, in a case of the highest
description of crime, and, with respect to its
inflictions and penalties, the severest that the law
recognizes ; in a case of high treason, I say, to
build your decision upon evidence of this cha-
racter, upon such a witness, and such a treacherous
Ibundation, is it possible that my friends on the
other side can expect it ; is it possible that they
can hope, or even wish for it ? Can you believe
tliat they could have known the previous conduct
and character of this man, when they brought
him into Court ? It would be an insult to your
understandings ; it would be an outrage to
common sense; a mockery of justice, to suppose
that the smallest degree of reliance can be placed
upon such evidence.

TRIAL OF TIIISTLEWOOD. 207

" But it is said that he is confirmed ; and
because he is confirmed in some facts, you are
therefore to believe him in the rest. This is a
position which lawyers are in the habit of stating
in a very unqualified manner ; but it is not a
position which can be maintained to this extent,
according to any principle of common sense.
There is no man who tells a long and complicated
story, like that which you have heard, who
may, and must not of necessity, be confirmed in
many parts of it. The witness was upwards of
eight hours in giving his evidence, and of course
stated many facts, which no man denies, which
have been in all the newspapers for weeks and for
months past ; and because he is confirmed in
certain particulars, you are therefore required
to believe the whole of his story to be true. Is
this a proposition to be insisted upon ? Can it
for a moment be maintained to this extent, and
in this broad and unqualified way? But, gentle-
men, every profession and science has its phrases ;
the necessary qualifications are by degrees lost
sight of, and the worst errors are thus intro-
duced.

"Let us then look at the mischief of this doc-
trine, and see the evils and injustice that have
arisen out of it. The notorious Titus Gates,
the witness for the Crown in the trials founded
upon the Popish Plot, in the reign of Charles the
Second, that most infamous and perjured wretch,
who was afterwards convicted of perjury for his
evidence upon those trials, and suffered the pun-
ishment of the law for his crime, was confirmed
in liis testimony in many most important particu-
lars. Unfortunately, the juries, misled in those
times of heat and party animosity, were prevailed
upon to believe him, and many unhappy persons
suffered in consequence of the extreme punish-
ment ol" the law ; and murders were committed,
under the forms of justice, in consecpience of the

208 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

reliance placed upon the frail and fallacious testi-
mony of a man of that description. You perceive,
then, gentlemen, the danger of this doctrine ; and
that it is not because a man is confirmed in
certain circumstances that you can safely believe
him, as to other facts where that confirmation is
wanting.

" What is the character of falsehood ? Who
has lived in the world, and has at all examined
the operations of the human heart and mind, who
does not know that this is the usual and proper
character of falsehood — that it does not wholly
invent, falsehood engrafts itself upon truth, and
by that artifice misleads and deceives, truth is
exaggerated, things that exist are discoloured
or distorted — these are the usual operations of
falsehood; this is a part of its nature, its address
and dexterity. It arises, therefore, out of the
very nature of perjury, that it must be confirmed
to a certain extent; and it is because there is
confirmation in certain particulars, to which par-
ticulars I shall, by-and-by, take the liberty of
drawing your attention, that you are gravely re-
quired to believe the whole of the miserable
fictions with which you have been insulted in the
evidence of this abandoned wretch.

** But let us look with a little more accuracy to
the shades and distinctions upon this material
point. I beg you to follow me ; for it is most im-
portant, according to my apprehension of the
question. A man may be seduced into the
commission of an oftence, who had previously
maintained a good character ; he may repent of
his crime, and give information, and then come
into court as a witness. If the story whicli he
tells is found to be probable ; if he is not only
uncontradicted in any facts, but is confirmed in
essential particulars; if there are no circumstances
of suspicion arising out of the situation in which
he stands, a jury, may, possibly, ujion such

TKIAL OK THISTLEWOOD. '20.')

evidence, be justitied in tiiulinGf a verdict of"
iiuilty. I repeat it, that if the previous character
of the mail wei'c Lj'ood ; that if tlie story he tells is
probable; if it is not proved to be false in any
part of it ; if he is contirnicd in essential particu-
lars, and there are no circumstances (jf susj)icion
arisino- out of the persons ^vith whom he is con-
nected, and by whom he is surrounded, then the
Jury nn\y give credit to his evidence.

"He could not help observing-, that, if he had
desired the best friend whom he had in the world
to enlarge his mind by the infusion of good sound
legal opinions, or to compose for him a disserta-
tion on this express sul)ject, that friend could
not have given him any sentences so adecpaate to
the expression of the sentiments which he wished
to convey to the Jury, as were the sentences which
he had just read to them. He could have wished
to have given them the book wdiich contained these
sentences to keep in the box with them, but the
practice of the Court prevented him from doing
so ; he would, how'ever, ask them to retain
them, if they could, in their minds, as a shield
of protection for the prisoner, against a man,
Avho ought not to be believed on any one point, but
who had interwoven with his falsehoods many
truths, which he had acquired either from common
report in common conversation, or which had
been impressed on his recollection by the injunc-
tion of those under whom he acted.

'' T\\Q next step which he had to take, would
be to C(uument on the exidence, but belbre he
entered into an examination of it, he should beg
leave to describe the nature of the (kfencc which
he was going to make. He thought it, therefore,
his duty, to say at once, that no doubt could be
entertained of Thistlewood ha\ing been at a meet-
ing in Cato-street, and that he, with the other
members of that meeting, Ivad determined to
murder all the Cabinet Ministers. To entertain a

'1 i:

'J 11) CATO-STUEET CONSl'IUACY.

doubt of the existence of the meeting, or the
sanguinary designs which those who attended it
entertained, would be full as absurd as to doubt
the existence of light now that the sun was casting-
its full radiance upon the Court. Wliilst that
meeting was in deep deliberation, it was inter-
rupted by the arrival of a party of police officers.
In the affray which ensued, Smithers met his
death, or, he ought rather to speak out plainly,
was murdered.

" Making-, however, these concessions, and ad-
mitting the facts to be as bad as bad could be
against the prisoner at the bar, believing even, as
he did beUeve, that Thistle wood was guilty of
the murder of Smithers, still he maintained that
liis iiruilt did not amount to hisfh treason. He
would admit, that from motives of a personal
nature, Thistlewood wished to kill one of his
Majesty's ministers ; and that, in order to effect
that purpose, he had no objection to kill them all.
The Jury ought, however, to recollect that, whilst
influenced by this wish, he had always been
accompanied by two spies : how far they had
advised these plots was not clear, but one thing
was clear, that, upon such evidence as theirs, they
were called upon to convict Thistlewood of high
treason. That he had been guilty of murder he
(Mr. Adol[)lius) was not now going to dispute;
but it was too bad that the crimes of murder and
treason should now be blended together, and that
lie slH)i;id ])e represented as meditating a crime
whicli lie never had for oiie moment in his heart.

" He had already stated to them, that if Adams's
evidence dul not convict Thistlewood, none else
did, for the evidence of the other witnesses was
little or nothing. ii\ tlierefore, he shewed them,
as he Iiopcd nnd trusted he should shew them,
that the witness Adam.- was totally unworlhy
of beliet", tiien. a verdict e-f accjuittal must be gi\eii

J niAI. or THI>T1 K^VOOI) '.' 1 i

for tlif prisoner at tlie bar. In c)r(lei' to convince
thcni how totally undeserv i^^• lie (Adams) was ol
credit, he ^Mr. Adol|)hus) should beg lea\e lo
direct their attention, to tlnee pc^ints. He should
ask them how i'ar Adams had been continued in thai
part of his evidence whicli related to th(; treason;
then how far he liad been contradicted by his own
evidence, or that of others; anri, lastly, how far
lie mij^ht ha\e been confirmed by f>tliers, if the
Counsel for the Crown had thought proper to call
them.

" What then was the testimony wliich Mr
Robert Adams had given to them? lie (Mr.
Adolphus) would tell them. The man had com-
menced his evidence by informing them, that lie
had been a soldier some years in the iUues. 'Jdiat
any subject of the King should entertain such
schemes as had been entertained by tiiese
alleged conspirators, was certainly dephjrable ;
but that a man in the situation of Adams, a soldier,
sworn to defend his Majesty to the best ol his
ability from all harm antl danger, should have
voluntarily entered into them, and should never
havo felt any of what he (yVdams) had termed
compunctious visitings as to the guilt in which he
was going to involve himself, until four days
after the execution of that guilt had been rendered
impossible, was a circumstance so atrocious as to
deprive him of all claim to credibility and res])ect.

" This loyal soldier, however, ])roceeded to in-
form them, that he had become accpiainted with
Brunt about three years ago, when the J3ritish
army was at Cambray, at which time Brunt was
attending it in the caj)acity of a shoemaker. After
the dispersion of the army he lost sight of him
for some time, but afterwards met him again in
the month of January last, when Brunt introduced
him to Thistlewood. Then occurred one of i\u\
most extraordinary circumstances which he (Mr.
Adolphus) had ever heard oi', though it appeared
. 2 V. 2

^212 CATO-STUEET CONSPIRACY.

to be nothing else than the fashion throughout the
whole of this case. At his very first meeting
with this Mr. Adams, Thistlewood let him into
the whole secret of his traitorous designs. But
could any one believe that Thistlewood himself
was so reckless of life, as to use language to a
stranger equivalent to this ? — ' My fate is so hard,
my circumstances are so desperate, that I care not
a straw what becomes of me. I put myself, and
all my designs, into your hands, without any re-
gard to the consequences ; and yet those designs
are so horrible and so sanguinary, that if you have
the slightest portion of loyal feeling about you,
you must denounce me to Government, you must
hand me over to justice, you must eml3race the
opportunity which 1 have given you of condemn-
ing me, without any scruple, out of my own
mouth.' Was it possible that any man in his
senses could be thus blind and foolish ? Could
the most credulous man alive be persuaded to
attach credit to so incredible a story ? He thought
not ; and he therefore trusted, that on such evi-
dence, they would never find the prisoner guilty
of high treason.

" But though the prisoner, and those with
whom he was connected, had not meditated so
great a crime as treason, the evidence inclined
him to believe, that after the perpetration of the
bloody deeds which they meditated, they had in-
tended, under shelter of the confusion which such
atrocities would have created, to have commenced
a general plunder and devastation of the metro-
polis. Such an intention, though it enhanced their
guilt, did not make it amount to high treason ;
and, indeed, any person who carefully perused
the evidence, would observe that it tallied well
throughout with a design to plunder, but very ill
indeed with a design to depose the King and
to alter the form of Ciovernment. For what was
it that Mr. Adams next said? Why, after some

TRIAL or TIIISTLEWOOD. 'J I S

conversation as to his excellence as a swordsman,
Thistlewood is represented as saying, ' No man
worth 10/. was worth any thing lor the good of his
country. The tradesmen and shopkeepers of
London were a set of aristocrats together, and all
worked under the same system of government.
He should like to see the day when all the shops
should be shut uj) and well plundered." Why,
the whole intent of their conspiracy was disclosed
in this sentence. Here was nothing about de-
priving the King of his style and dignity ; but
there was a good deal about plundering the city.
Their arms, too, w^ere fitted for this purpose, but
not for overturning the Government, as must have
been evident to all, from the miserable display of
their armory which had been so ostentatiously
made on the preceding evening. Therefore, unless
they could suppose, that to murder the man
whom they hated, and to plunder the shops during
the trepidation ensuhig on such murder, amounted
to a deposing of the King, the}^ must acquit This-
tlewood of high treason.

" At another meeting, this formidable band
of traitors declared that they were so poor,
that they could not wait longer than the en-
suing Wednesday for the effecting of their in-
tended revolution. He left it to the jury to say,
whether such a declaration savoured more of
plunder or of high treason. But, in his opinion,
a scheme of plunder was the only thing which
could be thus easily arranged ; not a revolution
in the state, which must depend \ipon many for-
tuitous events and circumstances. After this,
their conversation became sportive ; they gave
certain facetious nick-names to certain distin-
guished noblemen ; how justly it was not their
business then to decide. This occurred on the
13th of .larmary, just one month and ten days
before the transaction in Cato-street. ^\ hatoecur-
rcd next, according to the testimony of the

214 CATO-STRKFT CONSPIRACY,

respectable Mr. Adams ? Why, that three days
afterwards he was himself arrested for a small
debt, and carried to Whitecross-street prison,
which residence he did not leave until the 30th of
January. Was this man, who could not even pre-
serve his liberty, more likely to be found engaged
in a design to destroy the state, or in a design
to commit pillage and plunder, to enrich himself?
He had nothing to lose, he had every thing to
gain ; and if the worst came to the worst, he had
only to save himself, and hang the rest of his
companions, by turning King's evidence against
them.

" After Adams had got out of prison, he re-
turned to his old friends, and had several con-
versations with them, at all of which Edwards
was present. He wished to call their attention
to this curious fact, that Edwards, who could
have proved all the conversations which had
taken place — Edwards, whose name was placed
on the back of the indictment as a witness to be
summoned on behalf of the Crown, had never
once been put into the box. Shortly afterwards
they took a room to themselves, and had meet-
ings in it twice or thrice every day. Adams
attended them all, became acquainted with all
their projects, made himself an active partner to
all their intended atrocities'; and yet, though a
soldier of the King's, never disclosed a syllabic of
them to any of the constituted authorities until
he was apprehended. What next ? Why, between
the 3d and the 16th of February, another conver-
sation occurred ; and then this plot is described as
assuming, for the first time, a treasonable shape,
* One evening,' says this respectable witness, ' I
went in and saw Harrison, Thistlewood and
Brunt: Harrison said, that he had been speaking
to one of the horse-guards, who had told him
that the whole of their regiment would be down
at Windsor on the King's funeral. He said that

TRIAL OF rmsTi.Kwooi). 215

this would be a lavoiirable opportunity to hick up
a roir, and to see what could be done.' Kick up
a row ! That very phrase explained the whole
matter — all the troops would not, indeed, be out
of town, but all the otficers ol" police would, and
iheretbre it was a favourable opportunity to kick
up a row, and to commit depredation. ' This-
tlewood' continued Mr. Adams, ' said that it was
a good plan ; and, added, that if they could get
the two pieces of cannon in Gray's Tnn-lane, and
the six pieces in the Artillery-ground, they would
so help themselves as to have possession of Lon-
don before morning. He also said, that when the
news should reach Windsor, the soldiers would be
so tired from being up all night, as to be incapa-
ble of doing any thing when they returned to
London.' In possession of London! Why this
fellow, with his military education, ought to have
know n that he could not take military possession
of any single respectable street in the metropolis
with ten times the number of men said to be en-
gaged in this wild attempt to overthrow a mighty
Oin|)ire. I'or were their numbers unknown? iVo —
their whole battalia was well known to consist of
not more than twenty-five men; and yet, with
ihis mighty force, and with eight pieces of ar-
tillery, they were to be able to keep possession
of London, because the ]wor dear soldiers would
be tired to death by being kept up on duty a
whole night at Windsor. Were such idle dreams
and dotages to be credited in a court oi" justice ?
or were they to he dismissed from their recdllec-
(ion with that scorn and contempt which was so
ciniuenlly their due ?

'■ .Vilams then re])resented Thistle wood continu-
ing as follows: — ' Ly persevering after they had
got the cannon, and by using some activity, they
might go to Hyde-park and prevent any person
or messenger from gonig to \\ indsor, and giving
the alarm. Another party should then ero.-5S the

216 LATO-STREET CONSPIRACy.

water, and take the telegraph, to prevent any
communication being made at Woolwich of what
was going forward at London.' The man who
devised such a plan, might, indeed, be considered
as mad — but at least there was method in his
madness. Roads were to be commanded in this,
important diversions operated in that direction,
telegraphs to be seized in one town, and soldiers
paralyzed in another. All this, too, was to be
done by twenty-five men and eight pieces of artil-
lery, who were to be gifted, in addition to all their
other qualifications, with the most wonderful
ubiquity.

" That a wicked man, or that even a madman,
might devise such a project, he could easily be-
lieve; but that any man should propose it as a
feasible project to any body of men, was more
than he could ever be induced to credit. For
no story of oriental romance was so extravagant
^ — no exploit of any hero of school divinity was so
inconsistent with reason and probability, as was
the design which Adams had shown to have been
recommended by Thistlewood to his associates.
And yet these men were to form a provisional
government, and the forming of this provisional
government was to constitute a chief point of
their guilt ! They form a provisional government
for this mighty empire ! In what way ? by what
means? out of what materials? Out of those illi-
terate and beggarly individuals, he supposed,
who could not agree on the drawing up, on car-
tridge-paper, of three lines, to be exposed on the
great day of the revolution on the blazing buildings
of London, for the good of the people.

" This provisional government, formed from
such materials as he had described, was not to
begin the exercise of its authority, however, until
the soldiers, who were to be tired to death by
sitting Li[) all night at Windsor, were fairly dis-
posed oi". From his talking thus coolly of tiring

THIAL OF THI3TI KW'OOD. 217

the poor soldiers to deatli by the labours of
one niii^ht, it was quite clear that Adams, with
all his military education, had cither never heard
of such a thing as a bivouac, or else that he had
conceived all virtue and all valour, as well as
all honesty, to have left the army when he quitted
it. The provisional government being formed,
it was only natural to expect that the business of
the drama would crowd more thickly upon the
Jury, and therefore they might be excused for
asking what came next. Why, the provisional
government was to send to the sea-ports to pre-
vent any gentlemen from leaving England without
passports : it was to send to Dover, to Brighton,
to Margate, to Ramsgate, and other places, orders
to that effect ; to send to all of them, too, during
the night of the King's funeral — and, above all,
w^as to send these orders to Brighton in particu-
lar. Why so ? because the mention of Brighton
brought the prisoner at the bar into contact with
the reigning Sovereign, and laid a foundation for
a charge of high treason.

"The King, however, was not at that time at
Brighton, but unfortunately confined to his palace
in London by so severe an indisposition as to
require the issuing of daily bulletins regarding
the state of his health. From that indisposition
he had now recovered, and he (Mr. Adolphus)
prayed to God that he might long be preserved
from the recurrence of it. The prisoner at the
bar, however, if they were to believe the testi-
mony of Adams, was of o]>inion, that the present
family had inherited the throne long enough, and
that it was of no use for the present King to
think of ever being crowned.''

The learned Counsel proceeded, " Thus, gen-
tlemen, is the secret detected ! Here is the word
of the wise and the edict of the powerful ! By
means like tiiese was the greatest metropolis in
the world to be taken, the great roads of com-

2 F

218 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

munication with the country occupied, and the
sea- port towns seized ! Yet, by this shameless
fabricator of incredible falsehood, and by him
alone, is the first count of the indictment sup-
ported. It required the greatest human fortitude
of face to state it. Well, it was discovered that
the first Cabinet dinner was to be given. Cabinet
dinners were said to be suspended during the
death of the late King, and the illness of the
present. On occasion of this first Cabinet dinner
the plan was to be executed. Mark, now, how
this story breaks itself to pieces !

" On the 16th of February the plot is formed ;
yet then there was no ministry, and no intention
of a Cabinet dinner. This is flagrant, gross, and
palpable, too palpable for detection, too flagrant
for exaggeration. Several meetings are said to
have been held at Fox's-court. It was found, on
the 19th February, that the soldiers had done
their duty, and were not to be surprised, there-
fore something new must be devised. For this
purpose comes the ever memorable information
in The New Times. They had nothing in view
but plunder ; they sought only the surest way to
plunder. Poverty was their goad, plunder their
aim. Their designs were not directed against
any individuals, however exalted, but as means
of plunder. But a committee was appointed,
and we see them assembled on the 20th. This
is eminently worthy of your attention. On
Sunday, at eleven o'clock in the morning, when
the snow fell so thick that one could scarcely see
his way, the committee met. Tidd took the
chair at this rehearsal of the provisional govern-
ment. Tidd sat in the chair with a pike in his
hand. Thistlewood took his station on his right ;
Brunt was on the left; Thistlewood opens: — ' f
presume you know what you have met here for;
I mean the west-end job.' This is presumptuous
enough, certainly, Bnmt speaks next : he never

THIAL OF T11I5TLEW00D. 219

speaks without an oath, and he, characteristically,
says, ' D — n my eyes, mention it out.' Held
calls to order. So orderly was this meeting !
Thistlewood then proposes to assassinate the
ministers separately, as they cannot be got to-
gether.

" Their arrangements for this are like all the
other arrangements ; barracks were to betaken,
cannons carried away, ministers assassinated,
government subverted, the Mansion House occu-
pied, all by fifteen or twenty men. Twenty-tive
were the greatest number ever spoken to.
Twenty-five would find themselves completely
lost in the Mansion House ; they might as well
wander through the Tower of Babel. Palin, who
was to be particularly important in his services,
was to travel from place to place with satchels
of burning materials on his back, and was alone
to set fire to several places. Mr. Palin alone was
to be seen wandering about, setting fire to houses
for amusement, or for the perfection of their
plan. Each individual was to have his distinct
act of assassination ; whoever failed was to be
himself assassinated. But who the spare assassin
was, to assassinate the rest if they failed, was
not told. But this is one of the many fictions
which you are called upon to swallow.

" The witness ventured, for the first time, to
express here some dithculty, and asked whether,
if failure proceeded from unavoidable causes, and
not from cowardice, the same consc(|uence must
follow. 'I'histlewood relieved him from this
apprehension. But how the court-martial was to
be fcjrmed to try the case was not discovered.
Such, gentlemen, is the delirium of delusion, or
the suggestions of frenzy, which you are called
upon to believe. Mr. Faliu delivers a speech in
parliamentary form. ' Agreeing as 1 do with
the j)lan proposed, 1 wish to know where men
are to be found.' 'ilien he asks whether the

2 t 2

i2'iO CATO-STUEET CONSPIRACY.

plan is to be communicated to those he meant
to call upon. Thistlewood authorizes him to use
his own discretion. Gentlemen, if you find in
this testimony some remote pointing to proba-
bihty, believe it; but can you, for a moment,
hesitate respecting this gross and flagrant fiction ?
Furnival's Inn was selected for setting fire to.
No building is less liable to be burnt. It is a
modern building, and there are strong party- walls.
Other places, which I shall not name, and where
some of us live, would be much fitter. Many
places between Furnivars Inn and Fetter-lane,
all timber, would take fire at once. But Furnival's
Inn appeared fittest in fiction.

"The witness had been in prison, and having
forgotten that Furnival's Inn was rebuilt, and
inventing what he should say to the Privy-Council,
he represented Furnival's Inn as the place to be
burnt, because, in its former state, it would
readily take fire. The Privy Council, their clerk,
as well as the Attorney General, I believe, gave
him no assistance ; they only placed him before
an impartial jury. You know that if the plan were
contemplated and effected, a chandler's shop at
Charing-cross, where the various communications
diverge into the town, would create more alarm.
But this suited the grossness of fiction, or the fond-
ness of delusion, by which this witness looked for
impunity and reward. We now come to the busi-
ness of the exchequer. Brunt says, " D n

my eyes, though I have not worked for some time,
I have a 1/. note, and I shall give it for a treat."
You will not, gentlemen, suppose that I repeat
these oaths as feeling pleasure in doing so. It is
painful to me, and disgusting to you ; but, in my
humble judgment, it is not a needless repetition.

" Suppose Brunt's generous purpose accom-
plished, it will give a slice of cheese, a piece of
bread, and a glass of gin to each. It apj)ears
that Gs. was the largest sum seen with them :

TRIAL OK TinSTLEWOOD. *i^ I

there was Is. on another occasion ; there was
7d. for a newspaper, 75. 7d. was the treasury
then. Whether this and the prospect of sharing
in the produce of a 1/. note, could induce fifteen
men to subvert the Government, 1 leave you to
judge. Nothing stimulated them, then, but the
hope of plunder. When they should have done
something to create alarm, they expected to have
full liberty of plunder.

" Thus have I endeavoured, gentlemen, by
hours stolen from my rest, to lay before you the
real character of their intentions. My Lord will
fairly state the law to you; I need not, therefore,
anticipate any thing on that subject. At the meet-
ing on the 21st, information is said to have been
given that their proceedings were known at Bow-
street, and at the Secretary of State's office.
We miglit have had evidence whether this infor-
mation could be well founded, but we have none.
Next day, the 22d, the cabinet dinner is an-
nounced. Who announces it? Mr. Edwards.
This corresponds with what is in evidence before
you, that the intelligence was fabricated, and put
into the paper for this purpose. " Poverty goads
on these men ; it is fit," said the prompters,
" that we |)ut them on to what will serve our own
purposes."

" The Court reporter himself did not know of
the cabinet dumer. He has told you, that the
word ' grand ' could not be applied by him, as
one cabinet dinner was not grander than another.
You see, then, how it has been fabricated. I will
here once more allude to the execrations oi Brunt,
and from this time dismiss thom from your ob-
servation.

" The Attorney General animadverted properly
on the impiety and obduracy of heart which
the language of Brunt indicated. If it was true,
his infamy baftics description. It is, that up to that
moment he had been an infidel, but he had been

2ji!2 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

praying to God, and he now believed, because
his prayer was answered. Such are the words
uttered by the fiction-making witness's mouth.
' 1 have prayed to God, in whom I did not beheve,
to put in our power innocent men, who are highly
favoured in this world.' These are the fictions of
a gross, rank, ignorant, conspirator; they defy
the grasp of human investigation ; they almost
persuade us to believe them, because they are
impossible. We are almost led to say, as one
said on another occasion, ' I believe it, because
no man would invent what is so incredible.' But,
on a question of life and death, gentlemen, you
will not listen to such fictions ; you will not re-
gard such fantastical decoys. Perforated by
the witness's own act, his creation sinks to the
bottom of the sea ; it can form neither buoy nor
vessel — it is sunk and destroyed for ever. But
he is an infamous witness who cannot be believed
at ail. You find himself next in the chair ; and
when one turns upon him like a bull-dog, and
another like a bear, he remains firm.

" It was then resolved to have a watch set
upon Lord Harrowby's house. This was certainly
done, and was a part of the plan which was un-
doubtedly formed to murder his Majesty's Minis-
ters. But after that should have been done, so
barren were they of invention, that they were to
tall back on their old plan of carrying away can-
nons without horses ; of occupying posts without
men ; and of performing great deeds without any
means.

"Provisional Government! Unless the pro-
nouncing of these words were to ' raise spirits
from the vasty deep,' 1 know not what it could
mean. A printing press, one would have thought,
was indispensable. But no means of printing a
placard had they. Their proclamations were
written on a piece of cartridge paper. I beg par-
don, lot me not understate the means possessed

TRIAL OF TinSTLF.WOOD. '2'2,3

by them ; on three pieces of cartridge paper were
the magical words written. ' Your tyrants are
destroyed.' Ministers were the tyrants then. Be
it so. This is not \\vA\ treason. It mi<i:ht have
been murder ; but it is not high treason. ' The
friends of hberty are invited to come forward.'
If this were told by a witness deserving of faith,
it would stagger belief; told by one tainted as
this witness is, it can excite no inclination to-
wards faith. On the blazing building, I think I
am correct in stating it so, these proclamations
were to be stuck up, in order that the friends of
liberty, happening to pass by the ruins, might
know that a provisional government was sitting,
we know not where, or for what purpose.

" Is it possible, gentlemen, to sacrifice human
life upon evidence like this? Is it possible to cre-
dit evidence that has no point of contact with
common sense ? The Provisional Government,
dropped from the clouds, is sitting: the finger-
post is destroyed, with the blazing building to
which it was attached ; you know not where the
Provisional Government is to be found.

" The witness stated, that Ings, the butcher,
was arrayed in a belt and two bags. The articles
which were exhibited to you last night are re-
moved from the table to-day. The bags were to
carry human heads. If there is in the human
mind any thing so atrocious as to crown assassi-
nation with an exhibition like this, 1 am truly,
truly heart-struck with sorrow for it. I was led
to review the French Revolution, to which allusion
has been made by the Attorney General, and at
that early age every drop of blood in my body
was chilled with horror at human heads paraded
through the streets, and at the alrcx'ious barbari-
ties inflicted on the royal family. I rejoiced that
the country to which I belonged was free from
such crimes.

" From the hasty view I took of the baas, and

224 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY

it did not occur to me till I left the Court, but from
the hasty view I took, I think they are not large
enough to contain a human head. I am told that
they are : if so, I only say it has the impression
of a hasty view. But, for God's sake, let us not
decide by these ignorant visions. Was not Lord
Harrowby's plate, the salvers and goblets, &c., a
more natural object of desire, and not heads,
which, if any carried, every hand would instinc-
tively strike him from the face of the earth ? The
hand of Lord Castlereagh was to be put into
pickle, whether in order to be shewn for money,
as might appear suitable to the situation of Ings,
or to be exhibited as a trophy, does not appear.

** The witness says, when the officers entered
the loft in Cato-street, they cried out, * Here "s a
pretty nest of you,' &c. I shall afterwards re-
mark upon this, because I think it pregnant with
importance as to the witness's testimony, for I
think he was not there at all. "With the experience
which you have had in courts of justice, some of
you may have felt astonished that my learned friend
did not proceed further into the cross-examination
of this witness. Every art has its own difficulties,
and my learned friend never shewed more con-
summate skill in his art than when he refrained
from further cross-examination of this witness.

*^ When my learned friends, the Solicitor Ge-
neral and Mr. Gurney asked questions of this
witness, which were the natural and regular in-
quiries, you heard him refuse to answer, and add,

* No, I have something else to say before I come
to that.' When their experience and judgment
suggested the proper questions, he would not let
his contrived and fabricated tale be mutilated.

* No,' says the untractable witness, ' I have not
come to that yet.' If my learned friend had
wasted time in cross-examination, he could only
have got repetitions of the same words. Such
testimony is not to be overthrown by cross-

iHlAL ()!• Tlllsri.EWOOD. \!'J.O

examiiialioii, hut by his manner before yon, and
by the probability ol" the statements he makes.
But this important declaration was got from him
by cross-examination.

" When my learned friend asked him, in the
words quoted by the Attorney General Irom a
great poet, wliether he had ^iven inlbrmation from
' compunctious \ isitings/ he re[)lied, that con-
science alone made him disclose what he knew.
lie is quiet from the murder of Smithers on
Wednesday night till Saturday, when he plumes
his wings, and goes to the Privy-Council to dis-
burthen his heart. I have had a good deal oi"
ex])erience of the evidence of such persons ; and
1 have heard one, who was chairman of the
(piarter-sessions for Middlesex twenty-six years,
say, that, Irom the moment that observation was
made by an accomplice, he was not to be believ-
ed, because that was incredible. Apply that here.
He sees the murderer, and goes away, unconcern-
ed as if nothing had happened. He rests on the
stings of his conscience for four days. He nmst
think that yon have no hearts yourselves — no
consciousness of the operations of human feelings —
if he imagines that you can believe what no school-
boy would give credit to.

"Have I used levity upon this subject? for God's
sake, absolve me Irom the intention ! Have I
treated lightly the contemplation of assassinating
men possessing and deserving the highest venera-
tion } For God's sake, excuse the observations
which the absurdity of the evidence made neces-
sary ! I cannot hear, without indignation, that
the wisdom which has so long presided in one of
the most important of our Courts, was thus to
become a corpse ; and that the valour which
fouglit at Waterloo (for the Duke of Wellington
was to have been at the dinner) was to have fallen
})y assassins. From these two take the measure
oi' all.

'J (.

'2^2.6 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY,

" Wiicii the destruction of worth and wisdom,
of learning and talent, is thus contemplated, the
most hardened and flinty heart that ever dwelt in
a human bosom recoils with horror, and melts
with compassion.

*' If then, I have used a light expression, im-
pute it, gentlemen, to inadvertence of language,
and not to hardness of heart, because the absurdity
of the witness made the observations I offered
unavoidable.

" Let us now see how far this witness is suji-
ported by other witnesses. Mary Rogers proves
his statement as to the lorloings; Joseph Hall
confirms him to a similar extent. Lord Harrow-
by and his servant confirms him so far, as to prove
the intention of giving his cabinet dinner on Wed-
nesday night. Of this there is no doubt, Hyden
is proved to have spoken to his Lordship in the
Park. Three witnesses are called, which was
not necessary, to prove that the room in Cato-
street had been taken ; but the parade of confir-
mation in this matter is meant to cast an air of
credibility over other parts of the evidence. I
now advert to collateral confirmations. The shar-
pening of Ings's sword, the acquaintance of Har-
rison with the state of the barracks, the redeem-
ing of a blunderbuss from pawn for murder, not
treason, have been all proved.

" It is true, Hyden and Dwyer are not accom
plices, they are to be believed, if their testimony is
credible. Hyden long ago, before his late Ma-
jesty's death, states to Wilson, with whom alone
he was acquainted, that grenades were to be
thrown under the table, and that those who should
escape were to be killed with the sword. But
he mentions no ulterior object deserving of the
name of treason. Whatever the object might be,
Hyden goes first to Lord Castlereagh, who was
the object oi their peculiar spleen; then not find-
ing him, to Lord Harrowby. But what the nature

lUlAl. OF DnSTLEWOOD, -JS?

uf their plan was you may jud<;c from this that,,
Wilson would not, for the accom})lishmcnt oi' it,
lose a shilling or half-a-crown to be gained by
going with cream to a nobleman. He knew that
no such thing as a revolution was to be done.
This, gentlemen, is not the way that kings arc
destroyed, and governments overthrown.

"I do not say that the question should not en-
ter into your consideration, l)ut 1 say that vou
cannot find a verdict tor the Attorney (jcneral, if
you do not believe Adams ; and I have laboured
very much in vain, if you have not dismissed his
evidence from your minds. Monument has not
in the slightest degree confirmed Adams as to the
proceedings previously to those in Cato-street ;
and he has no memory of having ever seen so re-
markable a man as Adams at Cato-street. Monu-
ment knew nothing of the murder of Ministers,
and the expectation of plunder as the consequence
of its effects on others.

" You have next the very extraordinary and
very irregular evidence of Dwyer. He, according
to his own account, is a very modest bricklayer,
and has for thirty years served one master. His
conscience told him, and he told Thistlewood,
" It is a very hard thing for me to inveigle the
minds of men.'' A man who had such notions of
right and wrong, ought to have told him that it
was very wrong to murder. He gave information
to Colonel James within an hour of the time the
communication was made to him on the 23d of
February. Colonel James advised him to go to
the Secretary of State. He tells that Thistlewood
was in five or six revolutions. I don't knowThis-
tlewoods history or revolutions. [Here the learned
Council read large extracts of Dwyers evidence.]
Here is evident intention of riot, but nothing of a
revolution; and it is remarkable that there is not
a tittle of mention of a Provisional (iovernment,

" The whole fabric of treason falls to the ground
2 (. 2

228 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

like the card-house of a baby. Adams sees not
what is done in Cato-street. Monument sees not
Adams, and is not seen by Adams. Dwyer sees
neither Adams nor Monument on any occasion.
Monument, like Wilson, is so cold in the cause,
that, when he has a pair of shoes to mend, he pays
no attention to the plot. This is not evidence on
which you can believe the existence of treason.

*' As a plot, it is beneath the attention of Go-
vernment.

** That plan of assassination which has filled
the nation with horror, was such, that nothing
can be too eifectual to guard against it, and the
utmost vigilance of the magistrates ought to be
exercised to prevent a mischief so nefarious from
finding shelter in society. But I will say, in the
words of a great writer, that ' the chirpings of
the grasshoppers disturb not the stately ox, who
grazes unconscious of their noise." So is it un-
worthy of the Government of this country to pro-
secute as traitors some dozen of ragged beggars,
impatient of extreme poverty.

*' I shall point out to you in what points
Adams is materially contradicted. Here you
will remember that one contradiction is of more
importance than ten thousand confirmations.
Confirmations to any extent, only prove that the
witness spoke truth to that extent ; one contra-
diction proves the unprincipled contempt of an
oath, and the wilful fabrication of falsehood.

" The learned gentleman again adverted to the
meetings which were held in the house where
Brunt lodged, and asked, ' was it not strange
that the landlady, Mrs. Rogers, should have
known nothing of those frequent meetings, where
so many persons attended, and where such noises
were made as had been described. Would not
the Jury lliink it a very singular circumstance that
the landlady should have been ignorant of all this
passing in her own house? Let ihe Jury now look

TRIAL OF THISTLF.WOOD. 2^29

to the account given by Adams of what passed in
Cato-street He stated that there was only one
candle lighted. The officers, however, proved that
there were eight, and that they were all put out
on the firing of the pistol. He was equally in-
correct in describing what was said. It w^as not
as he swore, * there is a pretty nest of you."
No ; for the evidence of the officers themselves
went only to the w^ords, — ' We are officers, lay
down your arms.' He (Adams) knew when in
prison, that something was said by the officers,
and he made that account which he thought the
least likely to be contradicted.

" What w^ould the Jury infer from those con-
tradictions and inconsistencies in his evidence ;
but, that he was a man who respected neither
God nor his Gospel, and who swore to that which
he knew to be untrue. Would they, under such
circumstances, attach any weight to his evi-
dence ? ]jut he (Mr. Adolphus) w^ould come to
another part of his evidence, where he was not
C)nly contradicted with the account given by
others, but where he was inconsistent with him-
self.

" It would be recollected, that he swore to
Strange being present at the meetings on two oc-
casions ; yet, when Strange was put to the bur
he could not recognise him — not point him out
whom he swore to as having been present at two
meetings held in the open day. Was this the
man upon whose evidence the Jury could return
a verdict, which would ati'ect the life of the un-
fortunate y)ris()ner at the bar.

" He n(Av beu'gcd the attention of the jury to
another part of the case. They had lieard of
the name of I'.dwards in this case ; this man,
who lived at 1^(5, l-leet-strcct, who afterwards
lived at llanehigh-place, why was not this man
called? He was not an accomplice in any cri-
minal de^■rec, ;i> must be inferred from the con-

230 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

duct of Government in letting him go quite at
large. Why was not this man called ? They
would then have the spy to support the testimony
of the informer. He could tell the Jury why ;
because it was remembered what had been the
effect of calling a witness of a similar description
on a former occasion. The witness then pro-
duced underwent a long and able cross-examina-
tion from the Counsel employed for the prisoners,
and the result was, that he and his testimony
were put out of Court together, and had no other
effect on the minds of the Jury, than to convince
them that the whole was a fabrication.

*' If Edwards had been called, he would have
told the Jury how this case had been got up ;
for he was well acquainted with the whole ma-
chinery of it. It would be recollected, that it
was he who made the fusee for the hand-orenades ;
what would the Jury infer from his non-appear-
ance, but that the whole of this case, as far as re-
lated to the charge of high treason, was a fabri-
cation destitute of any foundation whatever.

*' He would now come to a part of the state-
ment made by the Attorney-General in his address
to the Jury. He had said, that he supposed a part
of the defence would be, that the Jury should
discredit the whole of this story, from its great
improbability. He (Mr. Adolphus) had never any
such intention, nor did he think, that the young-
est advocate at the bar would have attempted
such a line of defence.

" To deny the existence of a plan, however
wild and visionary, on the ground that it was
improbable, would be to go in the face of the most
authentic historic authority. He would take as
an example one of the most familiar cases on re-
cord. The Earl of Essex, it was known, in a
moment of moody displeasure with Queen Eliza-
beth, did not contrive a regular plan for displac-
ing her from the throne, but in the instant he

TIlfAL OF THISTLEWOOI). 231

rushed forili into tlie streets, at the head of some
few of his followers, and endeavoured to stir up
the citizens to rebellion; imagining- that the people
might be induced to second his scheme, and
eti'ect in a moment that which he had madly
fancied.

" This was a most wild and visionary plan ;
but, if we were reject it on the ground of its im-
probability, we should be blotting a page from
our history, the trutli of which was never before
doubted. Pso, it was not his intention to deny
the existence of the present plan, on tlie ground
of its improbability, but he wished the Jury to
disbelieve the witness, on the ground of the im-
probability of the plot as he had described it.
When, in the course of yesterday, they saw the
pikes, and swords, and pistols and guns, and
hand-grenades, which were taken from the pri-
soners, or at their houses, no doubt they might
have felt some alarm.

" They might have participated in the feelings
of some persons who were near him at that
moment ; one of whom said, he should not like
to have one of those instruments ])resented to his
breast. No doubt; nobody would like it: but let
the Jury seriously consider, how those instruments
were to be applied. If they took the twelve hun-
dred rounds of ball-cartridge which were said to
have been taken, and divided them by twenty-four,
they would find that they had just annnunition
enough only for fifty men ; but where were those fifty
men — or if they were in existence, where were the
arms to use this ammunition with ? They had only
seen a few guns and pistols, and putting them to-
gether, there was notsuHieient lur a party to com-
mit more than an ordinary highway rubbery with.
Could it be supposed that it was ever intended to
upset a government, and dethrone a sovereign, by
such means r ^\'as there, taking the evidence of
those who appeared before them, recollecting- that

2S2 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

Others who might have been called were kept out
of the way ; was there, he would ask, sufficient to
shew that the object ofthe prisoners was to upset
the government and constitution of this country?
He tliought he could shew, that their object was
quite of another description.

" Let the Jury look at the situation in which
the prisoner at the bar stood. They had, as was
stated by the Attorney General, often before
heard of him. He had, not very long before the
present transaction, been released from Horse-
monger-lane prison, where he had been confined
in consequence of a letter sent to my Lord Sid-
mouth. He came forth from that prison with
rancorous feelings against that noble lord, and
probably against others of his Majesty's ministers;
would not such a man be a fit subject to work
upon, in proposing an attack upon the lives of
those ministers ? Must not the Jury suppose
that the other prisoners would have heated feel-
ings, after the transaction which took place at
Manchester? He would not offer any comments
upon that transaction, further than to say, that
all which was said and written upon it, was not
without an effect; and, on the minds of the
prisoners, would it be strange, that an artful and
cunning man might work such an effect as to
excite them to the murder of his Majesty's minis-
ters, which would not of itself amount to high
treason ? With their feelings worked up, some of
them with strong personal enmity against some
of those ministers, they had determined u|)on
making an attack upon several of them at their
liouses.

" They were in this state, whenfortli came the
never-to-be-forgotten announcement in The New
Times, placed there by the hand that was to
betray them, that a Cabinet dinner was to take
place on the Wednesday following at Lord Har-
rowby's. Did not the whole of their conduct

TRIAL OF TIIISTLFWOOD. 223

shew that it was against the ministers themselves
that the attack was intended, and not against
the government, or with a view of effecting a
revolution? and was there not proof, that this
personal feeling was excited by some of the
recent transactions at Manchester to which he
had alluded ? What was the speech which Ings
was to have made on the arrival of the party at
Lord Ilarrowby's house, where the ministers
were expected to be assembled ? ' My lords,
you see we have got men as good as the Man-
chester yeomanry ;' and then, turning to his
associates, ' Citizens, advance, and do your
duty!'

*' During the whole of these proceedings,
nothing was heard of any intended attack upon
Carlton-House, or upon any of the branches of
the illustrious family of Brunswick. There was
no such thing. The wliole which their prepara-
tions and intentions embraced, were — first, the
murder of his xMajesty's ministers, and then
robbery. This was the object of setting fire to
some houses, that plunder might be obtained
in the confusion which might be thereby created.

" These, to be sure, were heinous crimes, but
they did not amount to the charge of high treason
against the prisoners. The setting fire to build-
ings, with the intention of robbing in the con-
fusion which the fire would create, was not,
unfortunately, a novel case. He was old enough
to remember, and perhaps some of the jury
might also recollect the circumstance of the
setting fire to tlie premises of a timber-merchant,
in order to rob a pawn-brokers shop, which was
close by it. Indeed, the manner in which some
of the prisoners had spoken of the shopkeepers
of London, shewed that their o]>ject was plunder,
and it appeared that bags were made for the pur-
pose of holding such ])lunder.

** He had now gone through the whole of the
2 H

2S4< CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

points on which it was his intention to trouble
the Jury. He had done so, perhaps, imperfectly,
but he would not apologize for the time which
he had delayed them. He had not, on this occa-
sion, all the preparation which was desirable.
On the contrary, he had but a very short notice
of the duty which he was to perform ; and, he
remembered, on a former occasion, that one of
the most learned Counsel at the bar expressed
his inadequacy to a similar task, though he
stated, that he had occupied a month in pre-
paring for the defence.

" In pleading for the life of the unfortunate
man at the bar, and, after him, of the other
prisoners, it was not too much for him to ask the
Jury to consider well the nature of the evidence
which had been given in support of the charge of
high treason. He now, however, left the case
entirely with the Jury. If- they thought, under
all the circumstances, that there was evidence
sufficient to prove the charge, then he should
submit ; but if, on the other hand, they were of
opinion that the case was not made out, or that
it was not proved to their, satisfaction, they would,
he was confident, acquit the prisoner.

" The learned gentleman again expressed his
own inability to give the Jury a perfect direction
on this important trial; and concluded by praying
that God might direct and enlighten their minds
on the awful occasion, so that they might admi-
nister impartial justice, always remembering that
the highest attribute of justice was mercy; and
that, whether the result of their verdict should
be, that the prisoner would only have a week to
live, or run out his days to that length to which
Providence might please to extend them, it would
be dictated by justice, tempered with mercy."

The Loj-d Chief Justice now addressed the
prisoner, and said, if you wish to olier any thing

TRIAL OF THI.STI.EM'OOD. 235

for yourself, in addition to what has been said
by your Counsel, you are at liberty so to do.

Thistlewood. — I wish, my Lord, to have two wit-
nesses examined to the testimony of Dwyer.
There is a man in Court who will prove that Dwyer
extorted money from him.

The Lord Chief Justice. — You must not state
that ; you should have consulted with your
Counsel. The time for giving evidence is now
past.

Tiiistlewood. — 1 will wave it then, my Lord. I
have nothing further to offer.

The Solicitor-General now commenced his
reply. He said, '' That in rising to address the
Jury in support of this prosecution, he felt that
he had a most anxious and painful duty to dis-
charge. As the servant of the public on this oc-
casion, it was his duty to perform the service with
which that public had intrusted him to the utmost
of his ability and power. He was anxious, there-
fore, that nothing should be omitted on his part
for the purpose of presenting this case in a fair
and proper view before them. At the same time,
he felt anxious that, in the prosecution of what he
M'as about to state, he should not misrepresent a
single fact, far less a single argument, against the
prisoner, or offer an observation which the justice
of the case might not fairly warrant.

** He begged leave to join with his learned
friend (Mr. Adolphus) in praying the gentlemen
of the Jury to dismiss from their minds all pre-
judices and impressions unfavourable to the pri-
soner, and to conhne their attention solely and
undivided! y to the evidence which had been laid
before them, on the oaths of the witnesses whom
they had heard. In saying this, he was aware
that it was superfluous and unnecessary. He
was addressing an English Jury — a body of men
sworn to administer justice to the public on the
2 n 2

230 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

one hand, and to the prisoner on the other ; and
he ought to apologize for suggesting a doubt, that,
in the discharge of their momentous duty, they
would not keep their eyes steadily fixed on the
evidence, upon which the fate of the person at
the bar must ultimately turn.

** The situation in which the prisoner then stood
was an admirable proof of the excellent system of
our laws, and of their being built and formed upon
the principles of liberty and freedom. They had
had it not only proved in evidence, but admitted
by the Counsel for the prisoner, that he had pro-
jected and harboured in his mind the assassina-
tion of the confidential servants of the Crown.

" They were aware of the passions and preju-
dices which were excited by this discovery in the
public mind, and they saw that this prosecution
was not commenced, nor was the unfortunate man
placed upon his trial, until an opportunity was af-
forded for those passions and prejudices to sub-
side. Independent of this, he was entitled to the
delivery to him of all the particulars of the accu-
sation which he was called upon to answer ; and
these particulars had been delivered to him at a
period so far back as three weeks from the present
time. This indulgence was granted to him, in
order that he might have an opportunity of con-
sulting Counsel as to any point of law, or any ob-
jection which might arise in his favour ; and in
order also that he might bring forward such testi-
mony as might be necessary to his defence. He
had also a list of all the Jurymen, who could by
possibility be called to sit on his trial, and these
he might reject, without assigning a cause, to the
number of thirty-five.

" On this account he was justified in saying,
that the Jury whom he was then addressing, what-
ever might be the result of their deliberations, was
a Jury of the [)risoner*s own choice. The prisoner,
also, had received a list of the witnesses who were

TUIAL or THISTLEM'OOD. 237

to be called by the Crown. That list was fur-
nished in order that he might have an opportunity
of inquiring into the previous character, history,
and conduct of every witness who might be called
against him, and for the purpose of enabling him
to impeach their character, if his inquiry should
enable him so to do. Such was the benevolent
spirit of the British law ; and such the advantages
to which a man, placed in the situation of the
i)risoner, was entitled.

" The charge against the prisoner was, that of
having conspired to overturn the Constitution,
under which that system of Government existed.
It was a question whether the subtitution of the
Government which he might have contemplated,
would have been distinguished by a character of
so admirable a description. He had no doubt
that the Jury would pay that anxious and careful
attention to this case which its importance de-
manded, and that they would not come to a ver-
dict of Guilty, unless they were satisfied that that
verdict was justified by the clearest evidence.
But, at the same time, he called upon them to
[)erform their duty, fearless of all consequences ;
to turn neither to the right nor to the left, but to
[)ronounce such a verdict as was consistent with
a proper feeling towards their country, and with
a due regard to the solemn obligation into which
tliey had entered.

" With respect to the law upon the subject, it
was not necessary to trouble them with any ob-
servation. In the charge against the prisoner
there was nothing of a difficult or questionable
description. He was charged with conspiring for
the purpose of overturning the Government of the
country, and with endeavouring to accom})lish that
by means of the assassination o( his Majesty's
Ministers. If the Jury, upon a due and carei'ul
examination of the evidence, were satisfied that
1 1: had so conspired, and that he had been found

238 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACy,

taking measures to accomplisk that object, then,
in point of law, he was guilty of the crime im-
puted to him. It was admitted on all hands that
a plot had been formed to assassinate the Minis-
ters of the King, and not to assassinate one, two,
or three, of those individuals against whom the
prisoner might be supposed to have some personal
enmity. The blow had been aimed not against
one, but against all.

*' The Jury would consider whether such an in-
tention was founded with a view to overturn the
Government of the country ; or, whether, as had
been fancifully surmised by the Counsel for the
prisoner, the sole object had been the plunder of
private property, and the gratification of private
revenge. They would look with jealousy to the
testimony which had been adduced before them,
and upon that they would conclude whether the
steps which had been taken were directed by the
desire of promoting revolution, or solely with a
view of obtaining plunder in the confusion which
would necessarily follow.

** In considering the evidence of an accomplice,
they would naturally look to his previous charac-
ter ; they would see whether there was any thing
in his former course of life, from whence to con-
clude that he was a man capable of pursuing a
continued and undeviating course of crime ; but,
above all, they would consider from all the cir-
cumstances of the case, what degree of credit
ought fairly to be given to his evidence. He knew
of no law that applied to accomplices, which did
not apply to every other witness who came into
a Court of Justice.

" The evidence of every witness ought to be exa-
mined with care and jealousy, and in proportion
only as his story was consistent with probability
was he entitled to belief. Now let them look to
the fair test upon which the evidence of Adams
was to be tried. His character, up to the time

TRIAL OF TIIISTLEWOOD. 239

of his entering into the diabolical schemes of the
prisoner, was unimpeached ; and, if any thing-
could be urged on that score, no doubt the pri-
soner Brunt, with whom he had been intimately
acquainted, would not fail to have adduced it.
In so much, therefore, he stood upon fair and eli-
gible grounds.

" Then they would ask themselves, what inte-
rest he could have in stating that which was not
true ? The more criminal the plot which he dis-
closed, the blacker hue he gave to his own repu-
tation ; and, added to this, he knew that, from
the candour and correctness of his confession
could he alone hope for mercy towards himself.
Then he must be aware, that if he stated that
which was false, his story was capable of contra-
diction, and therefore altogether fruitless. So
that, in every point of view, he was a competent
witness. As was before said, however, the Jury
still had the power of exercising their own sound
discretion, and of placing in him only that degree
of confidence which he seemed to deserve, and
which the confirmation he had received fairly
justified.

" The learned counsel for the prisoner had made
use of the gratuitous expression, that this man,
Adams, was the only witness to prove the case.
Was this the fact ? Were there not three other
witnesses who all spoke to the same occurrences ;
he alluded to Monument, Hiden, and Dwyer ; the
two latter of whom were, in all respects pure and
uncontaminated ; for what had been said of
Dwyer was absolutely beneath consideration.
These men were all unknown to each other — had
never seen each other — and yet they all agreed
in their story as to the plan for assassinating his
Majesty's Ministers, seizing cannon, providing
arms, burning houses, and establishing a provi-
sional government. Independent of these, a
variety of other witnesses had been examined,

240 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

who spoke to points trivial in themselves, but all
confirmatory of Adams, and, as it were, com-
pletely dovetailing with the most minute parts of
his story.

" This was the case with regard to Brunt's ap-
prentice ; to the landlady of the house in which
Brunt lived, and her daughter ; to the officers by
whom Brunt's house had been searched ; and
even to Tidd's own daughter, whose story was
precisely consistent with the plan which had
been detailed, but which had been so providen-
tially frustrated. In fact, each witness formed a
link in the general chain, which was complete in
all its parts. But there was a still stronger argu-
ment in favour of all that had been stated, and
that was, that it had not been contradicted by
evidence, although such evidence was capable of
being produced. For, if what Adams had dis-
closed was not true, why were Potter, and
Cook, and Palin, to all of whom he spoke as
having been present at the various meetings which
took place, and who were eligible witnesses for
the prisoner, not called.

" The absence of these men afforded an addi-
tional reason for giving implicit belief to all which
the witnesses for the crown had said. The
learned gentleman then proceeded in a luminous
and eloquent strain, still farther to illustrate his
argument, and with great ingenuity to contend
that it was impossible, under all the circum-
stances of the case, for the Jury to come to any
other conclusion than that the several charges of
high treason imputed to the prisoner had been
established beyond all doubt. If, however, as
had been said by his learned friend (Mr. Adolphus)
any doubt did exist, to the benefit of that doubt
the prisoner was fully entitled."

Lord Chief-Justice Abbot proceeded to sum
up. *' This, he said, was an indictment against
Arthur Thistlcwood, the prisoner then at the bar,

TRIAL OF THISTLEWOOD. 241

and several other persons, who, in the progress
of the trial, had appeared at the bar, in order to
be identified for tlie crime of High Treasox.
That ortcnce liad truly been stated as the highest
crime known to the law. It was so, because it
did not merely produce individual and private
evil, as most other crimes did, but, in addition to
♦hat, it created great and extensive public
mischief.

" A charge so grave and serious required tliere-
fore, at the hands of an English Jury (and would,
he was sure, from what he had seen, receive) the
most mature and patient consideration. The
charge, as it stood in the indictment, consisted
of several counts. First, conspiring and ima-
gining to depose the King; 2d, conspiring and
imagining to put the King to death ; 3d, con-
spiring and imagining to levy war against the
King, in order to compel him to change his coun-
cils ; and 4th, actually levying w^ar against the
King.

" Two of these offences, conspiring the deposi-
tion of the Monarch, and levying war against
him, were declared to be treason, by a statute
passed so long ago as the reign of Edward the
Third. In the construction of that statute, it had
been held, not only in many cases decided in this
country, but also in the opinion delivered to us
by various learned writers on this law, that all
conspiracies and attempts to depose his Majesty,
and all conspiracies to levy war against him, were
treasonable, and must be considered as overt
acts, proving an intention to take away his life ;
because, as historical experience showed, the
death of a sovereign generally followed the loss of
his kingly authority.

" But, in order to remove any mistake that
persons might fall into on this subject, a statute
was passed in the reign of his late Majesty,
similar hi substance, and nearly so in language,

2 I

242 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

to statutes that had been enacted in former years,
but which had expired. By that statute, the
conspiring or compassing to depose the King, or
to levy war against him, were declared to be
substantive treasons. Some of the persons called
before them on this occasion were represented,
and truly represented, to have been accomplices
in this traitorous design. This character did not,
however, apply to all the witnesses who had been
brought forward.

*' Much observation had been made on the degree
of credit that ought to be given to persons, who
admitted thatthey had joined in the design. On this
point she should only say, that, according to the law
of this country, and, he believed, of every other
country, accomplices were considered competent
witnesses; but the credit that should be given
to them was matter of consideration. The evi-
dence of an accomplice was to be weighed, with
reference to the probability of the story he
told, the confirmation of it, so far as it was
capable of confirmation, and the absence of that
contradiction which might be adduced, if the
story were false.

" There was, however, no rule of law which
said, that the testimony of an accomplice ought to
be credited ; neither was there any rule of law
which declared that it must be rejected. To de-
clare the latter would be to open the door, and
give the greatest latitude and impunity to crime.
For, as had been said by the learned counsel for
the prosecution, if such a doctrine were acted on,
bad men would feel that they might proceed in
their base designs with perfect security, and they
would trust each other without reserve ; whereas
bad men now distrusted each other. They were
afraid of detection ; and that distrust prevented
t^.e commission of many offences which could not
oe perpetrated without the assistance of several
persons.

TRIAL OF THISTLEWOOD. 243

" Having made these general observations, to
direct their attention to the evidence, he would
now', some hours having elapsed since the wit-
nesses were heard, read to the Jury such parts of
the testimony as were necessary for their consi-
deration in coming to a decision. [Here his Lord-
ship proceeded to recapitulate the evidence, briefly
commenting on it as he went on.]

" The first witness was H. Adams, who un-
doubtedly stood in the situation of an accomplice.
But, if the story he told were false, there were
several persons mentioned by him, and they
could have been brought forward to disprove his
statement, and to discharge themselves of the
crime imputed to them, if they were innocent, but
whom the Crown could not compel to appear.
This witness said, that the officers, when they
entered the room in Cato-street, cried out,
* Here's a pretty nest of you ; we have a war-
rant to take you all;' and the officers swore they
only called out, * We are officers — surrender.'
This difference was not material. The two ex-
pressions were nearly the same in import ; and,
in the scene of confusion which undoubtedly oc-
curred on the entrance of the officers, it was very
possible that a mistake might arise as to the exact
expression used.

" That part of the evidence, in which Adams
described his irresolution, gave, his Lordship ob-
served, the exact picture of a man of weak mind,
not knowing whether he should go on or recede —
balancing whether he should remain true to his
associates, or make a discovery — and who, when
taken into custody, did come to the resolution to
disclose all he knew. If his testimony were true
in substance and general effect, it proved not
only a determination to assassinate his Majesty's
Ministers, but shewed to them that that was only
a part of a more extended and general plan, which
embraced the seizure of arms, the taking posscs-

2 I 2

244 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

sion of the Mansion-house, and the formmg of a
Provisional Government ; a plan formed on some
vain expectation, that, if the blow were ever
struck, there were •a great number of people
in the metropolis who would readily join in
the scheme, and levy war against his Majesty '
Such an expectation was vain then, and he hoped
would ever be found so when such treasonable
attempts were made.

" This witness mentioned a man, named Ed-
wards. Why he was not examined his Lordship
could not say. Perhaps the prosecutors did not
wish to call him for very good reasons. How far
the Jury would disbelieve Adams on that account,
it was for them to say. What he had remarked
on the evidence of this witness, he was sorry to
say, was considerably against the prisoner. As
to the character of Adams, before this transac-
tion, they knew nothing. No person had said
any thing about it. Hyden was a witness of a
very different description ; for he, it appeared,
disclosed all he knew, early enough to prevent the
mischief that was meditated.

** John Monument, another accomplice, corro-
borated Adams. He stated that the prisoner said
to him, * Great events are at hand ; the people
everywhere are anxious for a change.' This ob-
servation shewed that the assassination of Minis-
ters was not the sole and only object of the
parties. The evidence of Thomas Dwyer, as far
as it went, confirmed the testimony of those who
were examined before him. If his statement were
correct, the prisoner told him the general plan
and object which he and his associates had in
view. These were the four witnesses called to
explain the designs of the accused parties. Two
of tliem were accomplices ; but, in general, none
but accomplices could be acquainted with such
foul and illegal designs. The two other witnesses
did not stand in the same situation. Communi-

TRIAL OF TillSTLEWOOD. 245

cations were made to them, on the subject of the
conspiracy, it appeared, with little reserve ; — a
circumstance of which the Jury were to judj^e.

" A great many other persons had been called,
chiefly for the ])urpose of confirming the testi-
mony given by these witnesses ; for, if they had
spoken to truth, without farther evidence to the
facts, treason was undoubtedly proved. They
proved the intention to levy war, to form a Pro-
visional Government, and, of course, to change
the Government as by law established. Eliza
Walker proved that the prisoner Brunt had hired
a lodging for Ings in the house where he resided ;
and Joseph Hale, Brunt's apprentice, deposed to
the meetings that were held from time to time in
Brunt's room. He proved that meetings were
held there every evening, and that grenades, fire-
balls, and pikes, were on the premises.

" Thomas Sharp, a watchman, deposed, that he
saw four suspicious persons, on the 22d of
February, watching about Lord Harrowby's
house. . Morrison, a cutler, proved that Ings
brought him two swords to sharpen, and a sword
found at Cato-street appeared to be one of them.
Alderson, a pawnbroker, deposed, that, on the
23d of February, Davidson took a blunderbuss
out of pawn. Thomas Monument, the brother of
John confirmed his testimony in several points.
This was the evidence confirmatory of the testi-
mony of the first four witnesses. Many of the
facts stated by Adams were spoken to by them ;
but the treasonable purpose could net be well
proved, except by accomplices. Information on
that point could scarcely be expected from a pure
source. Ilyden was a witness of that description ;
but Dwyer, to a certain degree, was not.

" The prosecutors then called persons to prove
what occurred at the stable in Cato-street ; and
Captain Fitzclarence, and several Bow-street
officers, gave a detailed account of the transac-

246 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

tions there. It did not appear to him necessary
that he should go, in detail, through the testi-
mony of these witnesses. It was not necessary
to inquire by what particular hand a gun or a
pistol was fired; but it was material to observe,
that, when the officers did come, many at least
of the persons present made a most desperate
resistance. A knife, said to belong to Ings, was
found on the premises ; and two bags and a case-
knife were found on his person. The bags were
important ; because it was sworn th*t he stated
the purpose for which he brought them. It was
argued by the Counsel for the defendant, that they
were meant for the reception of plunder, and not
for the horrible purpose that had been stated ;
but this did not invalidate the testimony of Adams,
because Ings might not have wished to declare
that he meant to put plate in the bags ; and, if so
he might have said, what he was sworn to have ut-
tered, as a reason for carrying them. This closed
the evidence for the Crown.

" On the part of the prisoners, Mary Baker was
called, \vho, the Jury would recollect, was not
cross-examined. This arose from a commendable
delicacy, on account of the near relationship in
which she stood to one of the prisoners. The
Jury would say, whether her evidence went at
all to shake the case. Indeed, it appeared from
her statement, that she had seen at Tidd's lodg-
ings instruments similar to those produced in
Court. A man named Hucklestone was then
called, to prove that Dwyer was not to be believed
on his oath ; and he stated, that he thought he
was not worthy of belief, because Dwyer had in-
formed him that he procured money by base ac-
cusations. This however, was entirely contra-
dicted by Dwyer ; and it was for the Jury to gay
which of the two witnesses was entitled to their
credit.

*' The Jury would also consider the character
and bcarino- of thti evidence of Doane and Mitchell,

TRIAI. OF THISTLEWOOD. 247

with respect to the pjiragraph in The Neiff l^ime.r,
announcing a cabinet dinner at Lord Harrowby's,
which, according to Whittaker, was not on the
same day in any other newspaper in London. It
was, however, a matter of no consequence how it
found its way into the paper, since it was proved
that cabinet dinner was intended to be given on
the 23d of February. This was the whole of tlie
evidence on each side. No witness was called
to impeach the veracity of Adams, Hyden, and
Monument. And if they gave credit to any one
of those persons, (even to Ilyden, who supported
what the others told them, and whose account,
though more concise than theirs, was the same
in effect), they must find a verdict against the
prisoner.

" Besides the testimony of the witnesses, they
had seen on the table a considerable quantity of
arms, which were proved to have been found in
Cato-street, and at the lodgings of one of the
prisoners. It was almost conceded, that a con-
spiracy was entered into for the purpose of as-
sassinating his Majesty's Mini.«5lers at Lord Har-
rowby's house. Indeed there could be little
doubt of it.

" If then it were admitted that this most
wicked scheme was entertained, it was for them
to consider whether it could reasonably be sup-
posed that that was all A\hich was intended ?
They were to consider, what was the probability
that those persons, unconnected in any respect
with each other, except so far as this plan brought
them together — and certainly quite unconnected
with the persons who conducted the afi'airs of
his Majesty's Government— did not view that as-
sassination as part of a scheme, having for its
object a general and tumultuous rising of the peo-
ple, to levy war against the King; or whe-
ther they conspired to effect that assassination
alone ?

" Whether thev adopted this plan to i^atisfy

248 CAlO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

their thirst for blood, or to accomplish that
ulterior scheme to which the witnesses had
spoken ? In deciding this question, it was fit that
the Jury should attend to the great quantity, as
well as the nature of the instruments produced.
They certainly were far more in number than
could have been wanted, or used in the abomi-
nable attempt that was to be made at Lord
Harrowby's. Some of them could not have been
used there at all. The hand-grenades might have
been thrown, but the fire-balls could not have
been used for the purpose which they meant to
effect at that house. When those dangerous ar-
ticles were found, some at one place and some at
another, it was for the Jury to take the circum-
stance into their serious consideration.

" If, on a view of the whole case, they, as just
and conscientious men, felt satisfied that a con-
spiracy to levy war was made out in proof before
them, if their minds were freed from all doubt on
the subject, they would, he was convinced, dis-
charge the painful duty that devolved on them
with proper firmness. But if, after a due exami-
nation of all the circumstances, and after attend-
ing to the observations of the very eloquent
counsel, who had addressed them on the part of
the prisoner, first and last, their minds were not
satisfied that the case was proved, they would
discharge the more pleasant duty of acquitting
the prisoner. The case was now in their hands;
and he doubted not but their verdict would be
consonant with the principles of justice."

The Jury then retired ; but, in a few minutes
returned into court, and requested his lordship
to read to them the Act of the 36th of Geo. III.

Lord Chief-Justice Abbot said, he meant to
hand it to them ; but he would, in the first place,
state, that, by the terms of the statute, it was to
continue in force during the life of his late Ma-

TUIAl. C)}- TIIISTI r.M-OOl). 21.)

jesty, and till tlic end of the next session of
Purlianient : therelbre the Act h.ad not expired
\vheii the edleged conspiracy was discovered.
But, if it ever had exi)ired, it vould have been of
no consequence, since, by ri late Act of Parlia-
ment, the statute of the 'S(]{\\ of (Jco. III. \vas
made ])erpetual. His lordship then real the Act,
and particularly pointed out the clause v/hich
made it treason — *' to compass, imagine, invent,
devise, or intend to deprive or depose the King
irom the style, honour, and kinj,dy n;iine of th.e
imperial crown of tliis realm ; or to levy ^va^
ag-ainst him within this realm, in. order to cun.[;el
him to change his councils." iiis lordship ob-
served, that it seemed to be admitted jjy the
Counsel on both sides, tliat if the p'roject r-laled
on the part of the prosecution were j^roved, it
fell within tlie meaning of this Act; Wrc, if a i^o-
visi(mai Government were ibn-ied, the royal style
must of necessity cease. To levy Mar did not
require soldiers drawn up in iidlilary array. It
was sutficient if a number of peoj)le met to do
some public act, in which they had no private
interest, but which aiieeted the coiuitry at large.
Devising to force the King to change his measures
was always considered a levying of war, under
the old statute of Edw^ard ill."

The Jury again retired, and, in about a quarter
of an hour, returned with a verdict of — GLTl/FY,
OX TILE THUID and FOURTH COUNTS OV
THE IXDICTMEAT. That is to say. on t]u,sc
Counts ^vhich charged the ])risoner v/ith con-
spiring to levy war, and with the actual levying
oi' war against tiie King.

The verdict, wiiicli was in sr.nie measure
anticipated, was recei\ed l)y tiie C<rart in i)erfcct
silence; and the wretched iiian v,;:s taken iVein
the bar, surreunded l)y several oiae^rs.

Thrijuuiiout tlie trnd he had maiiruuncuL ii:0.
greatest C'jmposrn'e, bMit duiing the absence' e-; t,ii<:

250 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACT.

Jury he seemed poignantly to feel the melancholy
situation in which he was placed. The candid
avow^al, however, of his Counsel, as to his
ultimate fate upon the indictments for murder,
had left him no hope of escape of an ignominious
death.

When taken back to the cell, he seemed to be
absorbed in the melancholy contemplation of his
approaching fate, which he of course felt was
irrevocably sealed. He scarcely uttered a single
w^ord to those by whom he was accompanied, but
threw himself into a chair, and appeared to be
entirely abstracted from all about him. He
partook of some refreshment, but was unable to
recover his spirits.

In the course of the evening he asked for a
glass of wine, which Mr. Brown instantly sent to
him.

It appeared that up to the last moment, This-
tlewood confidently anticipated an acquittal, as
indeed did many persons of respectability who
were in Court. The speech of Mr. Adolphus had
a powerful effect upon his auditors ; but the reply
of the Solicitor-General at once dissipated the
momentary impression w^hich he had made.

It was observed that a number of persons w^ere
collected in the neighbourhood of the Sessions-
house, who were known to have been constant at-
tendants at the Smithfield, Spa-fields, and Fins-
bury Meetings. Some of these intimated an
intention to give three cheers if the verdict was
such as they expected ; but upon the real verdict
being announced, they departed with strong
manifestations of disappointment.

At the termination of Thistlewood's trial, the
Court was adjourned till the following Friday,
the 21st of April.

TRIAL OF JAMES INGS.

SESSIONS-HOUSE, OLD BAILEY.

First Day, Frklii/, April 21, 1820.

At eight o'clock in the morning the jurymen, who
had been summoned, arrived at the Sessions-house,
and, at nine, Lord Chief Justice Dallas, Chief
Baron Richards, ]Mr. Justice Richardson, and the
Common Sergeant, took their seats.

The prisoner, James Ings, was then put to the
bar ; he seemed to labour under strong feelings of
a^iitation and had none of that firmness of aspect
which he displayed on the former days : he was
dressed in a suit of black.

JNIr. Shelton, the clerk of the arraigns, pro-
ceeded to call over the list of the jurymen, com-
mencing at the name with which he had termi-
nated, when the jury in Thistlewood's case was
impanelled.

After a considerable number of challenges, both
on the part of the crown and of the prisoner, the
following jury was finally impanelled and sworn :

Charles Pcjiner,
William jNIoore,
Thomas Ik'ccham,
John Beck,
Benjamin Rogers,
James Carey,
George Smith,
James Eade,
Benjamin Blythe,
2 K 2

252 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

William Percy,
John Young,
William Edgecombe.

Mr. Shelton then proceeded to read the indict-
ment against the prisoner, which was the same
already described in the case of Arthur Thistle-
wood,

JMr. Bolland, at a few minutes after ten, opened
the indictment in the usual way to the Jury.

The Solicitor-General rose at ten o'clock to
address the Jury for the prosecution. " It was
hardly necessary for him, he said, to entreat their
gerioLis and patient attention to the statement he
had to make to them in the performance of his
duty : they owed it to themselves, to their country,
and, above all, to the prisoner at the bar. in
justice to him, there was one fact now known, and
to which he might without impropriety allude.
One of the parties in this conspiracy had been
already convicted. That circumstance they were
bound not to let operate to the prejudice of this
prisoner; towards his part of the offence they
were bound to look, not through the medium of
atiy thing that had already passed in that Court,
but solely through that which would this day be
laid before them in evidence ; to that alone they
were to direct their attention, and by that must
they form their opinion of the guilt or innocence
of the prisoner. On the law of the case it would
be unnecessary for him to make a single observa-
tion, for upon it not a single objection, not a single
doubt, had been stated since this commission had
sat. The charge against the prisoner, divested of
all technicalities, was simply this, that he had
conspired with others, by force and violence, to
overthrow the laws and constitution of the ccnuitry.
This was to be effected by an extensive plan of
assassination, and by other means which lie
should hereafter mention.

TRIAL OF IN'C.S, '2o.j

'* la beliulf of the prosecution, he would plainly
and simply nairrate the lucts as he knew they
would be proved in evidence. Wc would narrate
them without the smallest exacr'4'cration or distor-
tion of facts. The best i;-ift and pride of the
pecjple was the y^iivc and impartial administration
of the laws of this c{>untry, and he wwuld state the
facts as they would soon hear them in evidence,
and leave them to decide upon their applicability
to the prisoner."'

The Solicitor-General then dotailed the evi-
dence he had to adduce against the prisoner ; it
was exactly as it is subsecpicnlly uiven by the
witnessess, and corresponded entirely with that
given already on the trial of Thistlewood. When
the learned gentleman came to that part of the
evidence which described the conflagration that
was to have been made on the night of the in-
tended assassination, and the priK'lamations which
were to have been posted up on the night of the
intended assassination, calling on the Iriends of
liberty to meet, for their tyrants, meaniiig the
me: ibers of his .Majesty's government, were mur-
dered, and in which they were called upon to rally
round the provisional government which was then
sitting; he oljserved, " what would not have been
the situation of this great metropolis if this dread-
ful project had been carried into ettect ?

" The ])eople would have seen pieces of artil-
lery moving in ditferent directions; thev would
have seen a general conflagration; they would have
heard of a provisional government, and t' ^ too
rendered perli;»ps more terrible by the ignorance
of the people wlu) were to com])o.^e it. It was
impossible to judge wliat would have been the
Tesult of such a notification, lie was, indeed,
willing to believe, that the people of this countrv
were too sound to be ettecti'. My mvited to rally
round men whose projects were introduced to

254 CAT0-3TREKT CONSPIRACV .

them by the horrible and atrocious crimes of as-
sassination and murder. He trusted that hitherto,
at least the natural indignation of Englishmen
would revolt at any propositions coming from such
a source, and to be sustained by such diabolical
means."

After detailing very minutely the evidence he
meant to give against the prisoners (as it is here-
after detailed), he informed the Jury they must
hear it from one or more accomplices ; on the extent
of whose credibility he made similar observations
to those made ])y the Attorney-General in his
opening speech on Thistlewood's trial, and dwelt
on the comparative impunity with which dark and
secret conspiracies would escape, if the evidence
of an accomplice were not admissible.

*' But even without this testimony, they had the
imimpeachable evidence of Hyden, and also a
number of facts which spoke for themselves ; and
he would here ask, could any assignable cause be
given for the meeting in Cato-street — the ammu-
nition— the arms — but that given by the evidence
which faev would hear ? He then observed, that
it was not because the plot was contemptible and
ill-formed, and left so much to hazard, that there-
fore its existence was to be disbelieved, the his-
tory of all plots was of the same description ;
they were generally characteristic of a total want
of foresight and prudence, but though wild,
though extravagant, yet if the project had exis-
tence, and they were satisfied of the prisoner
being a party to it, then they must be prepared,
if the evidence carried conviction to their minds,
to bring in a verdict of guilty against the prisoner,
without any reference to the consequences of that
verdict."

The learned Solicitors speech occupied an
hour and ten minutes in the delivery.

The following prisoners were then put to the bar

TRIAL OF INGS. 250

with Ings, to be identified : Davidson, Brunt,
Tidd, Harrison, Bradburne, Strange, Gilchrist,
and Wilson.

EVIDEXCE FOR THE CROWN.

The witnesses to support the case thus de-
scribed were then called ; but much oi' their testi-
mony was similar to that given in the trial of
Thistlev/ood. M'e, thereibre, confine ourselves
as much as possible to the new facts wliich came
out, and which applied immediately to the con-
duct of the prisoner,

Robert Adams was first called, and examined
by the Attorney-General. His testimony was
almost in all respects similar to that on the former
trial. He added, that he heard that the pike-
staves which he saw in the room in Fox-court
were quite green ; he understood they had been
brought from over the water ; Ings said he had
brought them. The same evening Ings drew a
pistol from his pocket. There was a conversation
about the illness of the present King ; Tliistlewood
said he would rather the new King lived a little
while longer, but it was not their intention he
should ever wear the crown.

On this occasion Ings said, that the day the Prince
Regent last went to Parliament, he himself went
to the Park with a pistol in his ])ocket. with the
sole intention to shoot him ; and as a test of his
sincerity, he said, " there's the pistol 1 took with
me," alluding to the pistol he had previously pro-
duced. He regretted he had not done it, and if
he had, he should not have cared a farthing for his
own Hfc. Witness saw Ings at all the subsequent
meetings.

On the meeting held about the time of the
King's funeral, when the plan Ibr a rising was
talked of, during the absence of the horse and
foot guards, it was Ings and Brunt that said,
nothing short of the assassination of tlie Km.; s

2o6 CATO-STREET COXSPIRACY.

ministers would satisfy thein. Ings said, with
his blood all of a boil, " that he must have them,
(the ministers,) if possible, before the parliament
was dissolved,"

On the meeting held on Saturday the 20th of
February, at which Tidd took the chair, with a
pike in his hand, and at which Thistlewood pro-
posed the murder of the ministers in detail, Ings
was present, and said, " whoever has the lot to
murder Lord Castlereagh, I am the man to turn
out to murder that thief ! ^'

On the Tuesday, at the meeting at Brunt's, wit-
ness saw Ings pull three daggers from out of his
pocket : he was asked what was the purpose of
pulling out these daggers ? When he seized one,
and making a sort of a rush, and a motion with
his arm, said, with an exclamation, to "run into
their bodies." After Edwards had commu-
nicated the paragraph in The Neiv Times, res])ect-'
ing the cabinet dinner on the Wednesday, and after
Brunt declared his belief in a God, from his
prayers being answered in bringing the ministers
together, Ings exclaimed with exultation, tliat
" he should have a better opportunity of cutting
off Lord Castlereagh's head."

*' It was subsequently arranged, that Ings should
head the party to go into the room in which the
ministers were assembled. He v/as to cut oif
Lord Castlereagh's and Lord Sidmouth's heads,
and to bring them away. Me was also to cut off
Lord Castlereagh's hand, which he was to cure
(pickle), as it v.'ould be thought a great deal of
at a future day." He was to be armed vrith a pair
of pistols and a butcher's knife.

The same afternoon, Ings was employed in
making fire-balls to set fire to the difierent build-
ings ; ivJwards was making fusees to the grenades.
On Wednesday evening, I'ebruary the 23d, tiiC
proclamalicii, written ]:y Thistlewood, was sigr-( d
" Jun;:^s h;g.<, Sccirctarv."

TRIAL OF IXCS. 257

Witness then described Ings's preparation for
action, his brandishing his knife, and his sangui-
nary declarations that he would cut off the heads
of his Majesty's ministers, and bring away the
heads of Lord Castlereagh and Lord Sidmouth in
his bags. The handle of his knife, he said, he
had bound round M'ith wax-end, " in order to pre-
vent his hand from slipping while he was at work."

The witness then proceeded to detail tlie vv-ell-
known occurrences in Cato-street, and the part
which Ings took therein. lie swore he would
rather die or hang himself than not do the job
that night.

In cross-examination by Mr. Adolphus, witness
said, I was born at Ipswich; I am now a Chris-
tian ; there was a time when I was not a Chris-
tian ; I was then a man in the same form as now.
I was what they termed a Deist. 1 believed in
(xod. I renounced Christianity and believed only
in God. I re-commenced Christian after the 23d
of February. 1 renounced my faith as a Chris-
tian last August. I never pronounced my disbe-
lief in God — nor ever denied Christ, till I read that
cursed work of Paine's ! I never was an Atheist,
Ijut always believed in a God. I have no pension.

The paper produced is my hand-writing ; I
was examined here on Monday, and have since
been in Coldbath-fields. I have had no com-
munication with any body. I have had a room
in the house of the Governor ; I have seen nobody
that has told me any part of the proceedings in
this Court. During the days when I was here,
I was kept in a room by myself. Heard nothing
of the progress of the proceedings, except the
conviction of Thistlewood. I had known Ed-
wards from the first part of January. From the
time I joined Brunt and the others. I never
intended to commit murder, nor to give informa-
tion ; 1 intended to Mait ibr an opportunity to
see if anv ihino; enabled me to creep out oi' it ;

•2 1.

258 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

1 was prevented from creeping out, from threats
that had been held out ; I was not disposed to
plunder the shops, although I was in a society
that were so disposed.

Before I went into prison, I was asking Brunt
what was the plan that was first drawn out ?
Brunt said that nothing would be communicated
till the day of action, and then the men would
be called together, receive a treat, and be told
what was to be done ; after which they would
not be lost sight of. Brunt said, if he had any
suspicion of any one giving information, he would
run him through. This was on the 16th of Janu-
ary. When I was examined on Monday, it did
not come to my recollection about Ings telling of
shooting the Prince Regent.

Mr. GuRNEY : We studiously passed over
certain points of the evidence for the purpose of
shortening it.

The Witness : I can tell many things, if I am
asked, that I did not tell on Monday. If any
thing fresh comes to my mind as I stand here I'll
tell it. There were things that transpired that I
did not state last Monday, and that I have not
stated to-day. I had no personal knowledge of
Monument. I can be answerable, that there was
one candle in the room.

I did not see more than one a-light. If a man
spoke the truth, he could not say there were
eight candles in the room. If any man said there
was, I should say he was a false man. I cannot
be answerable for every word which passed.

I always found Mr. Edwards very deep, and
very deep in conversation with Brunt and This-
tlewood.

There was a shot-hole in my coat from a pistol
that was fired from the window, when I was
escaping from the stable.

I do not know a man of the name of Chambers.
1 never called upon a person of that name in

TRIAL OF IXGS. 259

company with Edwards. I did call with Edwards
upon a woman at Pimlico, to buy a pair of boots.
On that day I did not call upon any man of the
name of Chambers to solicit him to kill his
Majesty's ministers. I never said I would kill
his Majesty's ministers, and have blood and
wine for my supper. I never had any conversa-
tion with any body to use Cashman as a watch-
word.

After the affair at Cato-street I did not take
any ammunition away with me from Cato-street.
Hall gave me a pistol and five rounds of ball-
cartridges. I loaded the pistol, and laid it on the
bench ; I did not touch it again ; and threw the
four ball-cartridges away in the room.

I never carried the lari^e hand-2frenadc. I
cannot say that I can charge my memory with a
score of words which Edwards ever said ; what-
ever he said was always in a side-winded way
amongst themselves.

Eleanor Walker, on being examined by
Mr. Gurney, gave similar evidence to that given
by her on the former occasion.

Mary Rocjers, Joseph Hale (apprentice to
Brunt), Thomas Smart (watchman in Gros\enor-
square), C. Bissex (also a watchman for the same
place), Frederick Gillan, John Hector Morrison
(journeyman to Mr. Underwood, the cutler, in
Drury-lane), Edward Simpson (corporal-major of
the 2d Life-Guards), and James Aldous (pawn-
broker), also detailed the same facts to which
they before deposed.

Thomas Hyden, the man who gave the in-
formation to Lord Harrowby, recapitulated the
facts proved on the former trial.

In cross-examination, he said, he had been
formerly a gentleman's servant; that was six
years ago. He lived with Colonel Bridges last.
He might have lived with him a month or more.
He could not certainly say. He had lived in

2'l 2

2GC CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY

Manchester-mews for five years. He had not
been there all the time himself. He was away
two or three months.

He was now in the Marshalsea ; he was not
ashamed of the place. It was for a debt of
eighteen pounds, and due to Mr. Powell, a milk
man. He went into prison last Saturday, on
execution. He had been sued at the beginning
of last summer. I was at home at different times
in June, July, and August, at Manchester-mews.
My family were there till last Saturday. I said
on Tuesday last I lived in Manchester-mews. I
am living now at this place where I stand. My
family goes there now two or three times a day.
I have known Davidson three or four months. I
do not know Mr. Edwards.

I know a person of the name of Edwards. I
know a good many persons two hundred miles
in the country. I have been to the Scotch Arms,
in some small court somewhere down by the
Strand. I was there twice, to the shoemakers'
club, with a friend of the name of Clarke, a
master-tailor. It was reported to be a shoe-
makers' club. I am not able to say whether po-
litics and the affairs of the State were the topics
of discussion.

I never was at any of the meetings in Fox-court.
T knew nothing of the affair in Cato-street till
told by Wilson ; I was to get the cream for a fa-
mily in Princes-street, Cavendish-square. I have
served them about three years, but I do not know
their name. My wife brought home the order
for the cream. I have been at the house, but I
do not know when. It was the first time I saw
Wilson ; he said to me that 1 need not be alarmed,
for a gentleman's servant furnished money. He
said this more than twice.

Ke-cxamincd : My family continued to carry
on my business in Manchester-mews till Saturday
last, when T was arrested. As far as I know my

TRIAL or ixos. 2G1

family have possession of the premises now. I
believe the house in Princes-street is No. G. My
wife serves the family sometimes; I have been
there; 1 believe the house to be the I'ront door
going from Cavendish-square towards Oxlurd-
street."'

Lord Harrowby appeared on the right of the
Bench, and spoke to the interruption of cabinet
dinners, and the issuing of cards of invitation for
the 23d. His Lordship named the company who
were to be present. His Lordship then stated
the receipt of Hyden's conmiunication, and the
change of arrangements adopted in consequence.

His Lordship, in cross-examination by Mr.
Curwood, said, he had not personally known any
thing of it belbre ; but he had heard a long time
antecedently, that something of this nature was to
be attempted.

John Baker corroborated the testimony of Lord
Harrowby as to the intended cabinet dinner.

Jonx MoxuMEXT was next examined, and was
aoain conducted into Court in the charge of two
of the yeomen warders of the Court. His evi-
dence u^^chief was })recisely the same as that
which he gave on Thistlewood's trial.

In cross-examination, witness said, that Thistle-
wood remarked, that every man would have
equal honour with myself. I went to Cato-strcet
for fear. I war< foolish, for I certainly went there
without knowii]g what I Aras to do. 1 thought
they were going to tlie House of Conunons. M'hen
1 was told by Brunt they were going to a cabinet
dinner, I fully thought they wore going to destroy
the; ministers, and yet 1 went. I went to Tidd's,
'; .cause 1 v>as afraid. I cannot tell why 1 did
not go to a magistrate to tell my I'ears. I\Iy in-
tC"ition was, v/lien 1 got into the i(,oui and loinid
out \vluit they were going about, to run away.

'luoMAs MoNi .Mi:xT couhmied the last witness
in ev;ry j)articular.

2G2 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

RuTiivEN repeated his former testimony. In
cross-examination, he said, he had no doubt there
were four or five lights in the loft, and others in
the little room.

James Ellis, William Westcott, Luke Nixon,
Joseph Champion, John Wright, and William
Charles Brooks, police officers, likewise repeated
their former testimony.

Capt. Fitzclarence. — The first thing he saw
was a police officer, who cried out, " Soldiers,
soldiers ; stable door, stable door !" He was met
by two men at the door, one having a pistol,
another a sword. He followed one of them into
the stable, and took him.

Serjeant William Legg, of the 2d regiment of
Coldstream Guards, was at Cato-street ; saw the
pistol levelled at Captain Fitzclarence, and seized
it, when it went ofi; It was Tidd who levelled it.
He took him into custody. He saw above on the
loft, Cooper, Gilchrist, and Monument.

Hercules Talnton gave evidence of the
seizures made at Brunt's and Tidd's.

Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus. — A reward
had been offered for the apprehension of Palin.
He was not apprehended, nor Potter, nor Cook.

Daniel Bishop was called, but not being in
attendance, his examination and the production
of the various articles seized was postponed till to-
morrow morning, and the Court adjourned at eight
o'clock.

The Jury were then, as in the former case of
Thistlewood's trial, placed in a room by them-
selves, and not permitted to have conversation with
any person whatever.

Ings in the course of the day revived in spiritr,
as he became interested in the evidence ; but he
frequently reverted to a state of gloomy suV
lenness.

The other prisoners were anxious to keep 'he
witnesses out of Court, when not under cxanma-

TKIAL OF 1N6S. 2G3

tion, and repeatedly called on those wlio acci-
dentally made their appearance to withdraw.

Secoxd Day. — Saturuav, April 22.

At a quarter before nine the Jury were con-
ducted to the box by the sheriff's officers.

Shortly after this the guns, pistols, swords,
pikes, grenades, ammunition, and other materials
of war, seized in Cato- street, were brought into
court, and placed on the table.

At nine the same learned Judges who presided
the day before, took their seats.

Ings and the other prisoners were then put to
the bar.

Efidencefoi' th& Crown continued.
Daniel Bishop was now put in the box, and
described the circumstances attending the appre-
hension of Thistlewood, which were detailed in
his former evidence.

In cross-examination by Mr. Adolphus : Witness
said he had apprehended the prisoner from private
information, not received from an officer ; he did
not know a man of the name of Edwards.

RuTHVEX was next called, and said there were
now placed on the table the arms and ammunition
taken in Cato-street; he then proceeded to select
each article separately, and to exhibit it to the
Jury ; the pikes and grenades were minutely
inspected. A pike blade was placed in one of
the handles in order to show the manner in which
it was to be used. When thus presented it had a
most terrific appearance- The knife stated to
have been found on the person of Ings was next
produced, and exhibited to the Jury. Wliile they
were examining it, Ings exclaimed, " It was not
found upon me, my Lord."

Hector Morrison, servant to Mr. Underwood the
cutler, identified the two swords which he irround

264 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

for Ings. They were made extremely sharp from
heel to pomt. The prisoner directed that they
should be made as sharp as a needle at the point,
and that they should be made to cut both at the
back and Iront ; this was done. The swords
seemed since to have been rubbed on a stone to
make them keener.

Samuel Taunton selected the articles found in
Tidd's lodgings, as well as those found in the
back room of the house in which Brunt resided.

Serjeant Hanson, of the Royal Artillery, de-
scribed the formation of the fire-balls and hand-
grenades, and opened one of the latter, as in
Thistlewood's case, for the information of the
Jury. IJe also looked at the flannel bags found
in Tidd's lodgings. They were what are termed
flannel cartridges for a 6-pounder. They were the
same as those used by the Royal Artillery, only
that those produced were f6rmed of flannel,
whereas those used by the artillery were com-
posed of serge.

It was now announced that the other prisoners
might retire, and they were re-con*ducted to their
apartments.

Serjeant Hanson,' examination by one of the
Jury, said, that the grenades found in Cato-street
were not made exactly in the same manner as
those made for the use of the artillery, although
they were calculated to produce similar destruc-
tive consequences. The cart-nails would be pro-
pelled with irresistible force by the explosion of
the tin carcase, and would scatter death around.
There was rather more powder in the case than
was sufficient to burst a nine inch shell.

The Attorney-General : That is the case on the
part of the Crown.

THE DEFENCE.

Mr. CuR\rooD then rose to address the Jury on
behalf of the prisoner, and commenced by lament-

TIM A I 01 i\r:s. '2G')

ing the effect whicli the conviction of the last pri-
soner must have upon their minds, however good
their intentions, and liowever anxious they might
be to decide this case i'ree from all preconceived
impressions. This circumstance, undoubtedly
weighed heavily upon his (Air. C.'s) feelings,
knowing that the construction of the human mind
was such, as rendered it ahnost imjiossiblc to get
rid of opinions once entertained. The disad-
vantage under which he laboured, in this respect,
was the more distressing, ]3ecausc although the
general features of this case bore a strong resem-
blance to the last, yet it wanted a most material
circumstance of conhrmation, Mdiich was produced
on a lormer occasion.

Sir Robert Dallas interposed, and objected
to any allusion to what had passed on the former
trial. The Solicitor-General, in opening the case,
had most humanely abstained from any reference
to the former case, and had entreated the jury to
dismiss from their minds the fact that another
prisoner had been convicted. The Court was
bound to treat this as a case depending upon its own
merits, and his Lordship was persuaded that the
Jury would forget that such a i)erson as Thistle-
wood existed, and dismiss from their minds all
knowledge of the former case, if they hai)pened
to have heard any part of it.

]\Ir. CuRWooD resumed, and said " he should
bow with respectful deference to the correction
of his Lordshij). His learned friend the Solicitor-
General had told the Jury that, in stating the case
for the prosecution, he was only anxious to acquit
himself as a fiitliful servant of the public, by fully
and fairly laying before the Jury the wdiolc of its
circiuustanccs ; and that as far as his own personal
feelings were concerned, he was rcLrardiess of the
result. No man woidd withhold trom his learned
friend the fullest credit Ibr the sincerity of that
statement. Though his (Mr. Curwoods) task was

'2 -M

266 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

much more irksome than that of his learned friend,
yet he hoped he should have credit for the same
feelings ; that he was most anxious, not only to do
his duty towards the unfortunate man at the bar,
but towards his country and his own character. He
was sure that the Jury were also animated by the
same feelings, and that whatever might be their
private sentiments, they would form their judg-
ment upon the evidence alone, and, if upon an im-
partial consideration of that evidence, they found
it did not bear out the facts charged in the in-
dictment, would gladly deliver him, by their
verdict of Not Guilty.

*' The Solicitor-General had also told them, that
the law of the case was extremely clear. No
doubt it was ; but it was necessary to point out
the precise question for their consideration, be-
fore they ventured to apply the facts of the case
to that law ; because the question here was not
guilt, or innocence in the abstract, for although
there was strong suspicion against the prisoner of
moral guilt, yet the question they had to try was,
whether he was guilty not only of high treason, but
of that high treason which was specifically charged
in this indictment. In order, therefore, to enable
them to discharge their duty fully and fairly
towards the prisoner, they must not only take into
their consideration the precise question they had
to try, but also apply the evidence produced, in
order to see whether the specific charge of high
treason was made out,

*' The history of the Statute of Treasons, 25
Edw. III., was well known. It was passed in
order to define what treason really was, and that
the ignorance, and even cruelty, which had pre-
viously prevailed upon the subject, by the erection
of certain acts into crimes against the state,
might be exploded. That statute contained a
few short and distinct propositions, which in fact
comprehended the whole law of treason. In the

TRIAL OF THISTLE WOO I). 2G7

language of Lord Coke it was called the blessed
Statute, from the admirable regard manifested in
it for the liberty and safety of the subject. It
declared first, that whoever should compass or
imagine the death of the King, should be guilty
of high treason ; and, second, whoever should
levy war against the King and this realm, should
be guilty of the like offence.

" A number of other enactments of treason had
taken place at different times since then, intro-
ducing a most horrible system of cruelty and op-
pression, but at length it was found necessary to
return to that blessed statute. It was true, that
in the reign of his late Majesty a statute ])assed
for extending the law of treason. He lamented
that such a statute should ever have passed, and
still more that any occasion for it should ever
have existed. Upon both of these statutes the
j)resent indictment was founded.

" By the 23d of Edward HI. it was made
treason to compass or imagine the death of the
King; and by the 36th Geo. III. it was made
treason to attempt to depose him from his kingly
office.

" 13y tlic statute of Edward, it was made trea-
!<on actually to levy war; and by the statute oi
George, it was made treason to conspire to levy
war.

" The four charges, therefore, which they had
to try, were these: Did the prisoner at the bar
comjmss, or imagine the death of the King? Did
he conspire to depose him i'rom his imperial
dignity? Did he actually levy war against his
INlajesty? And did he conspire to levy war with
an intenti(jn to compel his Majesty to change the
measures of his government by force? These
were the precise issues tliey had to try, and
whatever might be their opinion of his guilt, as it
respected otiicr charges still pending over him,
and for which punishment would reach hin» il he

2 .M 2

2G8 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

were guilty, yet unless they were conscien-
tiously satisfied that he had actually committed
some one of these four offences, they were bound
to pronounce him Not Guilty.

" It had been admitted by the Solicitor Ge-
neral, that if the case in all its parts was not
proved by unequivocal testimony, they were
bound to acquit the prisoner ; and he apologized
for the evidence he proposed to offer, by saying,
that in all cases of conspiracy it was necessary to
have the evidence of some of the conspirators, in
order to ascertain the purposes of their dark con-
sultations.

" This was another of the miseries resulting
from a departure from the statute of Edv/ard,
That admirable statute enacted, that before a
man should be found guilty of the treasons there
set out, he shall be ' proveably convict' of tiie
same.

" Upon the meaning of the words ' proveably
convict,* the great Lord Coke had written a whole
section, shewing that they did not mean probably
convict, but convict by the most unequivocal and
satisfactory evidence.

" The object of tiie statute, therefore, in making
this wholesome provision was to protect his ]\la-
jesty's subjects, whose lives might be at the
mercy of the most infamous of mankind. It was
necessary, therefore, that the Jury should ex-
amiK.e the facts proved with the most scru})ulous
circumspection, before they made up their minds
to the conclusion of the prisoner's guilt.

"• The Solicitor General had admitted, that the
evidence of the conspirators ought not to be be-
lieved unless it was contirmcd in ail its material cir-
cumstances. It was to be observed, that the con-
fainution alluded to, was not meant to apply to col-
lateral facts irrelevant to the matter in issue, but
to the svhulc body and substance of the evidence ;
and iherLtoic if they found that the malciiaJ wit-

TRIAL OF INGS. 2G9

iiesscs to cstflblLsli the conspiracy were not con-
firmed in the substantial part oi" their evidence, it
was tlieir duty to j)ronounce a verdict of acquittal.

" The leatned counsel admitted that there was
sufficient evidence to establish an intention on
the part of the prisoners to commit, perhaps, a
dreadful riot, to conmiit murder, and to eiiect the
destruction of houses ; but he strenuously urged,
that this was not sufficient to make out the crime
of high treason, as alleged in the indictment. He
adverted to the evidence of Adams, and other
witnesses, and contended that it was wholly in-
credible, and inconsistent in every part.

" But supposing the conspiracy which they
had proved, really to have existed, he urged that
it was the most ridiculous plot that could ever
enter into the mind of the most inlatuated man,
c(jnsiderin^" the absolute destitution of means to
carry it into effect. The records of fiction emd of
history did not i'urnish an instance of such a wild
and chimerical sclieme.

" After commenting with considerable inge-
nuity, upon the evidence of the princij)al wit-
nesses of the Crown, he proceeded to deprecate hi
strong terms the doctrine of constructive treason ;
and called upon the Jury, as guardians of their
own and the public liberties, to make a stand
against the further extension of this abominable
doctrine, which had been condemned by Lord
Hale, and some of the wisest Judges that ever sat
to administer justice. Keturning again to the de-
scription of evidence adduced to support the
conspiracy, he insisted that they could give no
credence to Adams, who stood confessed tlic be-
trayer of his companions, a traitor to his king, a
rebel against his country, intending to assassinate
and murder his fellow-subjects, an apostate to his
religion, and a scofler of his God.

" Would a British Jury in this sanctuary of
justice sacrifice to torture and death eleven

270 CATO-STREEr CONSPIRACY.

men, merely upon the evidence of such a self-
convicted wretch ? He had stated to the Jury the
danger to which our liberties and lives would be
exposed, if a man could be convicted of high
treason, on evidence like that which they had
heard ; but as he preferred supporting himself in
all cases by the authority of great men, he would
remind them of what the present Solicitor-General
had said, without telling them on what occasion
the words to which he would allude had been
spoken, or how long it was ago.

" A witness was called to discredit the testi-
mony of another. He, on cross-examination, ad-
mitted, that he had accompanied a person to the
Park, who went there for the purpose of extorting
money from individuals, by charging them with
certain practices. On this occasion the natural
feelings of his learned friend, the Solicitor-Ge-
neral, broke forth, and he inquired, * Would any
honest man — would any man worthy of belief in a
court of justice, accompany a person who went on
such an expedition? Would any man, entitled to
credit with a jury, agree with another in such a
plan to extort money V This, in point of fact, had
not been done by the witness to whom he alluded ;
but he, Mr, Curwood, must beg to apply this sort
of reasoning to the principal witness for the pro-
secution, and ask if a man who had acted as
Adams had done was entitled to belief in a court
of justice.

*' Was a man entitled to credit, who, like
Adams, was an apostate, a traitor, a rebel, a be-
trayer of his companions, a murderer, and an as-
sassin— all of which he admitted that he had in-
tended to be ?

" Yet such a man had his learned friend put
up on the present occasion. But who would be-
lieve him, unless, indeed, it were made out, which
no lawyer would say it was, that such a man was
entitled to credit when he came into a court of

TRIAL OF IXGS. 271

justice to seek the lives of men, though not in
other cases, where his object was different.

" If this principle were not established, then
out of their own mouths was the principal wit-
ness for the prosecution condemned. He called
upon the Jury to look if he were confirmed, he
would not say by good, but even by infamous
w^itnesses. It was nothing that he was corrobor-
ated in various insignificant particulars, but he
was borne out in nothing that went to prove that
the prisoner at the bar had committed high trea-
son; and he therefore begged of them, under
these circumstances, to give that verdict which
would dismiss Adams with shame, as a man not to
be believed in a court of justice on his oath.

" If such a man were corroborated by other
infamous witnesses, it would, in fact, be no con-
firmation ; how, then, did the case stand when
they found that he was not even confirmed by the
testimony of those who were almost as infamous
as himself. Having done with Adams, the next
witness was Hyden, he described himself to have
formerly belonged to a shoe-making club, and to
have been introduced to Thistle wood in the month
of February. And what was the first proposal
made to him? Why, Thistlewood was repre-
sented to have said, without any disguise or re-
serve, " Will you be one to murder his IMajesty's
ministers ?''

** Good God ! — what must that man be whose
heart would not revolt with horror from such a
proposal ? But this person expressed no disgust
at the plan with which he was thus made ac-
quainted. Was this man then more worthy of be-
lief, than one who would join with another to ex-
tort money ?

*' Was this, to use the words of the Solicitor-
General, a man worthy of belief in a court of jus-
tice ? The answer that his learned friend would
leel disposed to give must be, that he was not.

272 CATO-RTREF.T CONSPIRACY.

Then what confirmation could his evidence supply
to that of Adams ? It was not necessary for him
to go through all the details of the conversations
between this witness and Adams, but he must
remark, that of these not one word went to con-
firm the facts that would amount to the crime of
high treason, though they all tended to establish
a plot to assassinate his Majesty's ministers.

" It was true, that something was stated to
have been said of seizing the cannon in the
Artillery-Ground, and of retreating to the Mansion
House. All this proved that a great riot was in
contemplation, but it evinced no intention of com-
mitting high treason. This witness described
himself to have joined in the plan, and to have
told the conspirators that he would be with
them.

" The next witness was Monument. He had
sworn that he was told by Thistlewood he ought
to get arms, as all his (Thistlewood's) friends
were armed. At that period it could not be
denied, that there was a great ferment in the
public mind, in consequence of the transactions
which had taken place at Manchester but a short
time before.

" Many of the warmest friends to the measures
of government were of opinion, that an inquiry
into those transactions ought to be instituted ;
wliile others, without reserve, termed what had
occurred at Manchester * a massacre,' and de-
clared that since they were liable to be so dis-^
perscd at public meetings, they would attend
ihcm armed, that they might be prepared to
defend themselves. Thistlewood had used words
to this effect. He (Mr. Curwood) would not
deny that to go armed to such meetings, was a
desperate resistance of the law ; but he would
maintain that it did not amount to high treason,
and he entreated the Jury ricver to dismiss fiom
their minds that it was lor lii^h treason, and for

TRIAL OF INOS. 273

high treason c»nly, that they were trying the
prisoner at the bar, and not for disobedience to
tlie law in otlier respects ; and therefore if the
facts proved did not amount to high treason, it
would be their duty to return a verdict of Not

GuiLTV.

" The witness, Monument, had confirmed the
evidence given of the existence of a plan for the
assassination of his Majesty's Ministers, and for
creating a riot ; but he proved nothing respecting
that proclamation which was said to have been
prepared by Thistlewood, and which alone went
to give the conspiracy the character imputed to
it in the present indictment. But the witness,
Monument, he contended, had shewn himself
during this trial to be the same unfeeling villain
he had set out with being; yet, from the ag-
gregate of infamy brought forward on this oc-
casion, there resulted no proof of high treason.

" Palin and Cook, who might be able to give
evidence in favour of the defence, he shewed
that he had no means of bringing forward, as, if
they were to otfer that testimony which might
acquit the prisoner of high treason, they would
bring themselves into peril, as the Attorney-
General well knew that if they were to appear in
the witness's box, they would not be suffered to
depart with impunity, Eleanor Walker and
Mary Rogers had only proved the taking of the
room in which the consultations of tlie conspi-
rators were held. This was not denied. It was
admitted that they held consultations, and for a
nefarious purpose ; 'but the question for the Jury
to try was, whether or not these consultations
related to high treason. Hale had also proved
the room and the purchasing of some sheets of
cartridge paper. This he (Mr. C.) contended,
was wanting for their cartridges. Adams said it
was for their proclamations, but of this there was

2 X

274 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

no proof, and the fragments of cartridge paper
that had been found were not written upon.

" The three next witnesses proved various
facts connected with the plan of assassination, but
nothing that amounted to high treason ; and what
was proved to have taken place in Cato-street,
though murder and riot appeared to have been
in contemplation, he could discover nothing like
* a levying of war.* If they had not * levied war
against the King,' conspiring to do that which had
been done, could not be * conspiring to levy war
against the King.'

" This was a question which must be left to
the understandings of the Jury. They all knew
what war was between different states. It was
carried on by large bodies of men, formed into
companies, under the direction of proper officers,
and accompanied by all the materiel of war. A
civil war was the same, but that one part of a
state in a civil war was opposed to another part
of the same state. It would be for them to deter-
mine whether enough had been proved to shew
that any thing like war had been levied. It had
been laid down by Sir Matthew Hale, that any
disturbance was not necessarily a * levying of
war ;' for in that case every riot would be high
treason. To constitute a levying of war, there
must be something worse than a common riot or
outrage; * there must be a species belli?'

" Could the Jury find this on the present occa-
sion ? The utmost force that had been mentioned
consisted of forty men. These forty men were to
be marched with unfurled banners through the
city, to take two cannon in Gray's Inn-lane, and
six in the 7\rtillcry Ground, and they were to
possess themselves of llie Mansion-house, Was
this a levying of war? That the conspirators liod
been formed into companies was more than ho
had ever heard, and where was the money tliat
was to canv <>n the war? In what holes and

TKIAL OF IN OS. 275

corners had they hidden themselves that nothing
was known of them ?

'' From the circumstances to which ;he had
called their attention, he would leave the Jury to
judge how far the charge of levying war, or con-
spiring to levy war against the Kinu' liad been
made out. In a former instance, if lie recollected
right, the same charges were brought forward on
a former trial that were now preferred, and in that
case there were stronger circumstances — great
bodies of persons had assembled, gunsmiths'
shops had been broken open, and arms had been
stolen from them ; yet in that case the Jury, not
denying the existence of any guilt whatever, had
rightly determined, as he thought, and as he hoped
the present Jury would do, that the party accused
was not guilty of high treason.

** He then shewed, that to endeavour to remove
the ministers from their situations was not a
crime ; and he argued, that to attempt removing
them by force was not high treason.

" He trusted the Jury would believe that he
contemplated the plot to assassinate ministers
with all the horror and indignation that such a
design was calculated to inspire ; but he could not
sacrifice his duty to his feelings, and he hoped
that they would feel as he did, and feel how
necessary it was for the safety of other lives, that
those who were concerned in it should not for
that offence be convicted of high treason. It was
most consoling to him to reflect, that he should be
followed by his learned friend, who would address
them with much more eloquence than he could
command.

*' He concluded by calling on them, whatever
their feelings might be, to look at all the circum-
stances of the case, and see if they could find it
proved by good, or even by bad witnesses, that
there had been a levying of war. If they did find
this, he could not exj)ect a verdict; but if they

'2 N C

276 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

found, as he thought they must, that there had
been no levying of war, they must return a
verdict of ** Not Guilty."

EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.

Thomas Chambers examined : I live in Heath-
cock-court, Strand. I have seen a man of the
name of Adams in company with a man named
Edwards, about a week before the Cato-street
business took place, in my room. They came
together. They made a proposition to assassi-
nate his Majesty's ministers. Adams and Edwards
asked me to go with them. I refused. Adams
said, " They were going to kill his Majesty's
ministers, and that they would have blood and
wine for supper." They came again on the
Monday night before the Cato-street business
took place. They brought with them a large
bag.

Cross-examined by Mr. Gurney : I am a boot-
maker ; I might have seen Ings, I am not certain.
I cannot say how long 1 have known him. I don't
suppose I have been in his company above twice
or three times. The first time was at a place
where they sold the Black Dwarf and the Medusa,
kept by a man of the name of Watling. I cannot
state where else I have seen him. I know a house
called the Scotch Arms, in Round-court, in the
Strand. I have been there three times, but did
not see him. Those times were before Christmas.
There was no chair there. There was no person
sitting in a chair. There was no chairman. It
was in no other room hut the tap-room.

I have been at the Biack Dog, in Gray's-Inn-
lane, once ; there was no chair there ; there might
be about seven persons there ; it was on a Sunday
night ; I cannot say whether before or after Christ-
mas ; I was invited there by a man of the name
of Bryant, who was going to ihe Cape ot" Good
Hope. They were all strangers to me except one.

TRIAL OF INOS. 277

and that was Mr. Thistlewood ; I know Brunt
very well, he was not there ; I don't think I know
Palin ; I will not swear I did not see him ; I was
at all the meetings in Smithfield ; I cannot state
who carried the black liag ; I carried no flag at
the last meeting ; I before carried two flags — one
had inscribed on it " The Manchester Massacre ;"
I never saw such a flag as " Let us die like free-
men, and not be sold like slaves," I carried
the flag inscribed " Trial by Jury," at Mr. Hunt's
entry into London. I know Davidson. I have
not much knowledge of Tidd. I know Wilson.
I know Harrison very well. I have not much
knowledge of Strange nor Cooper.

1 have known Mr. Hunt ever since his triumphal
entry into London. I was shocked at the propo-
sition of going to murder his Majesty's ministers,
at least so much that I did not go. Though Bow-
street was so near, I did not go there to give
information of the plot.

Mary Barker spoke to Edwards's bringing
grenades to Tidd's, her father's. There was one
very large ball brought away by Adams.

This was the whole of the evidence for the
prisoner.

Ings here requested, and was permitted to
withdraw for about a minute. He returned with
an orange in his hand, which he sucked with great
composure.

Mr. Adolphus then rose to address the Jury.

" Gentlemen of the Jury, — 1 call for serious
attention and kind indulgence, if for no other
reason, for this consideration, that, if your verdict
should be against the unfortunate man at the bar,
these are the last favourable words that he shall
hear uttered. My Lord will state the law and
the evidence to you i'airly ; but, beyontl that, he
will say notiii' g for the prisoner. 1 feel the
languor that necessarily arises from the attempt
to tread over ground already trodden, and trodden

273 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

in vain. But I advance to the task with a clear
mind, and faculties unfettered, because I can lay
my hand upon my heart, and say, that no opinion
I formerly offered is now changed.

" The SoHcitor-Gcneral, in his fervid opening,
and my Lord, have told you, that the former case
is to be kept entirely out of view. I say so ; but
I know hov/ difficult it is to prevent the judgment
from being influenced by the memory. I cannot
help here contrasting the joy and alacrity of the
Solicitor-General v/ith my own feelings. He told
you, that he had to >ay before you, not what he
hoped to prove, but what he had ah'cady proved.
I have no such encouragement. It is for me a
new case ; for Adams has, in this case, brought
forward evidence which he thought proper to
keep in his own breast on the former triah

" Much fervid declamation has been addressed
to you by the Solicitor-General upon the conse-
quences of success in the alleged plot. But you
are to dismiss from your minds this speculative
danger. The Solicitor-General has also stated
propositions of law upon the subject of accom-
plices with great eloquence, but with less accu-
racy than might have been expected from his sta-
tion and character. He asked, * Has the accom-
plice any interest in giving a deeper dye, — in
making a stronger point, — in carrying conviction V
I answer, * Yes, yes, yes !' His impunity is con-
ditional. He comes before you in chains, and in
custody. — I refer to your own breasts, whether a
man that can himself be yet prosecuted, has no
interest in giving not true but acceptable evi-
dence. The accomplice has the advantage too of
having all who could contradict him tied up by the
prosecution, and he therefore swears boldly.

" We are told, we might call Palin. Most
gracious offer ! When a great reward cannot
stimulate the police-officers to find him, how
should we find him, and persuade liim to ])ut liis

TRIAL OF INCiS. 279

life in peril ? It is more a taunt than a kindness;
more a reproach on our weakness than an essay
on our strength. On the part of the prosecution,
a witness has not bLcn called who was proposed
to be called ; and a w^itness that has been called
has been withdrawn, when our witnesses have been
on the floor to contradict him. This has further
impoverished my poor, my destitute clients.

The Attorxev-General objected to these ob-
servations.

Mr. Adolpiius proceeded. — " Cook and Harris
may be imaginary persons, and how could we call
them ? If high treason in this case comes entirely
from the mouth of an accomplice, you cannot
receive it. It is the whole of the charge ; and,
if in that the accomplice is not confirmed, that
charge is unsupported ; for, if you strike out the
evidence of Adams, there is not one v/ord to prove
treason.

" Let me ask you to try his testimony, then,
by these tests. — 1. Is his account probable, or
even possible? — 2. Is his manner such as to
entitle him to credit ? — 3. Is he contradicted by
witnesses for the prosecution ? — 4. Is he con-
firmed ? or is confirmation withdrawn ? Upon
the first question, the learned Counsel argued
with great force and animation, that the witness,
Adams, could not stand any one of these tests,
and therefore was not to be believed. If," said he,
any thing is to be gained by success in these pro-
secutions, it is to strengthen the Government in
the minds of the peo})le ; it is to obtain aj)p!ause
for Ministers wlio have so vigilunlly prottctt'd us.
But your verdict, gentlemen, is to decide the fate
of that man, and no more. (Jreat Bi'ilain and
Europe will judge of the conrluet of Tvlinisters;
posterity will decide upon their merits.

" In all questions at issue, in history and in
politics, if any thing is kept back, it ought to
operate against the party who keeps it back.

280 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

Adams has fathered upon others what he has
himself done. Call Ings a murderer — call him an
assassin — call him a felon — call him what you
will — but, for God's sake, gentlemen, believe
him." After some animated comment on the evi*
dence of Chambers, the learned Counsel returned
to Adams.

" The meeting in Cato-street affords no evi-
dence of the intention. Adams alone states it.
The very situation of Cato-street, however conve-
nient for the assassination, disproves the treason ;
for it is two miles and a half from Gray's Inn-
lane, and two or three miles more from the Man-
sion-house. They never could thus have removed
to the greatest possible distance from the points
of action. What, then, are you to make of two
bags to carry two heavy heads ? You cannot for a
moment raise this into treason ; as well might
you believe that an attempt was to be made to
liberate the prisoners in this gaol by throwing
cherries and carraway-seeds. Did they, then,
levy war ?

i " I recollect seeing a man convicted at that bar
of the murder of a Minister of State (Mr. Per-
ceval). I never can forget Sir James Mansfield,
the tears streaming down his aged venerable
cheeks, [f strong feelings could make the assas-
sination of a Minister treason, that would have
been treason. Suppose they had seized the can-
nons, that would not be a levying of war ; for
they are not the King's, but the property of pri-
vate individuals. The Mansion-house and the
Bank were not the King's. The only tittle to
support the treason was the absurdity of a ' Provi-
sional Government,' stated by Adams.

"■ Some of you remember, as I do, the confla-
gration of houses, and the blazing of prisons, by
a mob misled by an individual. The actors in
that scene were tried, convicted of felonies, but
not of treason. Their infatuated leader was

TRIAL OF IiVOS. 2S1

acquitted of high treason. God forbid that I
should say my cHent stands ])erore you free of
guilt. God forbid I should apologize for his
conduct !

'* The evidence precludes me from denying that
there was an intention to assassinate IMinisters.
Poverty rendered the men desperate, and impelled
them to crime. But treason is incredible and
impossible. The whole hinged on Thistle wood.
He had but lately got out of prison, haviniJf
challenged Lord Sidmouth, who properly prose-
cuted him, instead of accepting it. That he should
entertain feelings of revenge was natural and ine-
vitable, considering that his was a bad mind. But
this is not treason." ' - "

The learned Counsel having concluded his very
able speech, the prisoner was addressed as fol-
lows, by

Chief Justice Dallas. — James lugs, do you wi«h
to leave your defence to the observations of your
counsel, or do you wish to sav anv thing voi;r-
self?

lugs. — I wish to state the particulars how I
became acquainted with this party, if you will
allow me.

The Chief Jmtice. — Any thing and every thing
you wish to state, of course the court and jui-y
will hear. Now is the time for you to state those
things; speak loud, and we will attend to what
you say. Probably, bt^foro you say any tiling,
you will consult your counsel.

Ings. — I have l3ut little to s;iv.

The Chief Jii.^tiee. — After having cirawn your
attention to the propriety of consultni'j: your coun-
sel, you will now do what you tlunk best.

//?g.v, addressing himself to the Jury, spoke as
follows :

" Gentlemen of the Jury, f am a man of no
education and very humble abilities. If vom ^vjli
h;;ar me with p-ritiencc. T u-jli jior citiaiu Vk^i i

282 C A TO- STREET COXSPIUACY.

1 lived in Portsea. I came to London in the be-
giiiDing- of May, 1819. I came with my wife and
family. The reason I left Portsmouth was, that
I was unable to get employ to support my
family (here the prisoner seemed affected by
his feelings.) When I came to London I thought
I could get employ, but I was for a considerable
time, and could get nothing to do. Knowing
nobody I suppose was the reason. I had a few
pounds with me when I came from Portsea.
Finding my money going I did not know what to
do. It did not go b}'^ drinking or gambling.

*' I determined to get nito business, and I went
up to ]3aker\s-row, where I set up a butcher's
shop. I stopped tliere three nicnths, from Mid-
summer to Michaelmas ; the summer being hot
was against me; I lost a considerable deal of
money in the course of the summer; T then took
a house in Old Montague- street, which I opened
as a coftee-shop ; in fitting up the shop my money
was all gone ; I did not take money enough to sup-
port my family. I now persuaded my wife to
return to Portsea among her friends, where I
thought she would be better than with me in
London.

" After my wife had left me some considerable
time, there was a man who used to come and
take a cup of coffee at my shop. I had never
nothing to do with politics ; but he began to
speak about the Manchester massacre. I said
very little ; I always took him to be an officer.
He came frequently before I left the house.

*' Some time after I met him in Smithfield. I
went there to see if I could get any employ. He
asked me how I did ; and I said very well. lie
said, he had been often to my house, and asked
mc to stand treat. I said it was not in my
]-)owcr, and my reason was, that I had no money;
I added that I should be obliged to sell my things.
lie asked mc what thimjs 1 had to sell, and I

TRIAL OF I \t.>. 2S3

told luni various articles, llv agreed to buy a
soia bedstead.

"■ I tlieu went to live in Primrose-street. This
was in January last. A lew days after, I met
him in Fleet-market, lie asked me where wc
could have something to drink ; and respecting
the sofa bedstead, he said he thought he had a
friend that would buy it. I took him to my
house, but we could not agree. We came back
to Fleet-street; he then told me there was some-
thing going to be done. I asked him what it
was, and he said no good man would want to
know wdiat was to be done before it was begun.
We went directly and had some bread and
cheese. He took me to the White Hart, where
1 saw a few of my fellow-prisoners. 1 asked who
he was. I understood his name was Williams;
but I since know that it was I'Ldwards. He told
me that it was he made Thomas Paine (the
statue of Paine) at Mr, Carlisle's ; and it was
the same man that did make it. He al'terwards
took me to another room where 1 got refresh-
ment.

" I did not know the particulars of any thing
that was going to be done. I was a stranger, and
went for food. That very day he brought me a
sword (o ^et irround i'or him. which I took tc the
(.•utici's m my own nanie : ;ind do yuu iliink, gcr,-
llemcn, ii' 1 kn?w tliat any tling was going on. that
1 would have Ic't it in my own ivjvr.c '. i often
v.i'ht to liie nian ;Lfle■|■^^■n•(ls, for i had no friends.
On the 23d of Fehnia'-^-. lic cniric to me at
Hiy lodging, in Pr!nirose-strc;;r, !".r my landlord
charged me noihjng for iny lod.'iiivu- ^^nd says,
' There s something a goiiif; to be done ; do you
come up to the alley oj^posite ?klrs. Carlisle's ;
about six o'clock, I shall meet you tliere." I went
from there up to the room. I was there all day,
and 1 got some bread and cheese.

'• At six I went to Fleet-street, lie was sland-
2 o :i

284 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACV'.

ing in the alley. I understand since, from the list
of witnesses, that he lives in that alley. He told
me to wait, which I did, for an hour. He then
came and gave me a couple of bags and a belt,
and asked me to come to the room in Fox-court.
On my going there he told me that he was going
to put some gin in the bags ; and that it was to be
got on the sly. That was the sole reason that I
put the bags under my coat, lest the patrol
should see them. I went with him up to St.
Giles's, where he said we were to get the gin.
When we got there, he told me it was not there.
We went up to Oxford-street, where he said a
friend lived. He left me and I waited for him an
hour. He then took me up to John-street, [ be-
lieve it was, for I never was there before, to the
stable. He told me I would see some friends there ;
he then left me.

" When I came under the archway, I saw Da-
vidson ; Davidson took me into the stable. I
never was up in the loft. I declare positively, be-
fore God, I was not in the stable more than five
minutes when the officers came in : there was only
me there. Mr. Ruthven-, then, or somebody with
carroty whiskers, and another, went up the ladder
into the loft, and a third man came in, collared me,
and said, " You are my prisoner." Very w^ell, I
says. Soon after he collared me, he began beat-
ing me with his staff till my head swelled most
dreadfully. In the mean time I heard a gun or
pistol go off in the loft.

*' When he let me go and run out of the stable,
I followed him into the street. On going into the
street, an ofF.cer went after me, and I ran all down
the street. 1 met a man v/ho struck me violently
on the head with a stick as I was going towards
him. I ran from him, and with that I was pur-
sued, wJien I was stopped by a watchman who
Ijcat me also. They t(^ok me down to the watch-
house. Tluit is all 1 know about the meeting.

TRIAL OF IXGS. 2S5

" I am like a bullock drove into Smithfield
market to be sold. (Here the prisoner burst into
tears.) I say I am like a bullock drove into
Smithfield to be sold. (This he repeated with
great energy.) The Attorney-General knows the
man. He knew ail their plans for two months
before I was acquainted with it. (Still crying.)
When I was before Lord Sidraouth, a gentleman
said. Lord Sidmouth knew all about this for two
months. (Still in tears.) I consider myself mur-
dered if this man is not brought forward. (A
more violent gush of tears.) I am willing to die
on the scaffold with him. He told of every thing
which he did himself. 1 don't value my life if I
can't get a living for my family. (In still greater
grief.) My life is of no use to me if I want bread
for my wife and family. I have a wife and four
children. I never was in the habit of drinking,
nor nothing of the sort. I cannot describe my
feelings to you about my wife and family. (In
tears.)

" I hope, before you give your verdict, that you
will see this man brought forward, or else I con-
sider myself a murdered man. I knew nothing of
their plots ; he was the instigation of it all. I
never attended none of their radical meetings.
I hope you will weigh well this in your minds
before you return your verdict. That man Adams,
who has got out of the halter himself by accusing
others falsely, would hang his God. I would
sooner die, if I had 500 lives, than be the means
of hanging other men.

Lord Chief Justice Dallas. — Is there any thing
more you wish to say?

Ings. — Nothing more. I have only one thing to
prove my character. A gentleman put it, down from
my childhood. (He here handed a paper, which
his Lordship declined to take.)

The Attorn ey-General rose to address the
Jury about three o'clock. It had been more than
insinuated that these j)rosecutions were intended

2SG CATO-,vrilKET CONSPIRACY.

to extend the law of treason, and that their ver-
dict would enlarge the powers of the Crown.
But it was not so; by the due administration of
justice alone were they to pronounce on the guilt
or innocence of the prisoner.

** The 3Gth of the late King was not calculated to
introduce uncertainty and speculation. If the
prisoners had the intention, and acted upon the
intention, of levying war, it was treason, however
inadequate their means. No man could doubt the
truth of the story which Adams related. The
learned gentleman then commented on the evi-
dence at great length, insisting that the case was
satisfactorily proved.

Lord Chief Justice Dallas proceeded to
address the Jury. This most painful inquiry
having, in point of proof, been terminated, it
became his duty to recapitulate the whole of the
evidence, and to make such observations on the
case as the different points seemed to him to
require.

** With respect to the indictment, it contained
a number of different counts and charges, which
were founded on two specific statutes. The first,
an ancient statute, passed in the reign of Ed-
ward III. ; and the second, a more recent act,
passed in the reign of the late King. But, lo
make the case as clear as possible, they r/iiglit
dismiss most of the counts from their minds, and
look to the charge as composed of tw^o licads ;
one, conspiring to depose the King, and the otiier
conspiring to levy war to compel him to change
his measures. He should now proceed to recite
the evidence as he liad taken it. (The learned
Judge here read the evidence of the whole of 1 he-
witnesses, pointing out those facts which were
most worthy the considerat4on of the Jury.] TJie
learned Judge then, in allusion to the testimony of
Adams, observed, that, if the doctrines \w\d that
day could be adopted, no suc-h thing as an accom-
plice could be adiniLtedm a court otjuslice, ilis

IIIIAL OF ]VG^. 287

evidence would be at once got rid of, by stating
that he was guilty himself.

" They were, however, informed, that though
it was often necessary to receive the evidence
of an accomplice, yet in the practical application
of that evidence, they were to view it with a
susj)icious eye. They were net to receive it,
except it was confirincd. On this point he had
heard the law grossly mis-stated,

" The testimony of an accomplice ought to be
confirmed in some particulars, but not in all ; for
if they possessed the means of proving all he
stated, there would he no necessity to call him to
give evidence.

*' It was for tlif Jury to say whether the pri-
soners had not a revolutionary object in view. If
they were assem])led merely for the })urpose of
assassination,, (^f course the charge of treason was
not made out, but if tl^ey thought otherwise, un-
doubtedly it v/as. It might be said chat it was
impossible men could entertain such an extra
vagant project ; if he had been told that there
were twenty-five men on the face of the earth,
and still less, of the country to which he had the
honour to belong, who intended to commit the
foul and dreadful act of butchery and blood
which had been described, he should have said,
till they were detected, that it was utterly im-
possible— that such a thing never had happened
and never could. But looking to the evidence, it
was clear and undoubted that such an occurrence
had happened.

" The prisoner had called witnesses before
them, and he had implored the Jury, ere they
disposed of his fate, to consider his case maturely.
In that request he went hand in hand. If they
were of opinion that those persons assembled
only to destroy f')urteen individuals, and that the
materials found were merely collected for that
])urjiMse, thev would then liive the benefit of tlint

288 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACV.

doubt to the prisoner. But, on the other hand,
if, in the discharge of their duty, acting in the
name of that Being who had been more than once
appealed to in the course of this inquiry, they
believed that the offence was proved, they would
then, he was sure, fearlessly and intrepidly
return with a verdict in conformity with their
sentiments."

The Jury retired at twenty-five minutes after
eight o'clock, and, at a quarter before nine, re-
turned a verdict of—GUlLTY, ON THE FIRST
AND THIRD COUNTS— that is, of conspiring
io depose the King, and to levy war to compel
him to change his measures.

The prisoner was then taken from the bar, and
the Court adjourned.

TRIAL OF JOHN THOMAS BRUNT.

SESSIONS-HOUSE, OLD BAILEY.

Fijst Dai/, Momla;/, April 24, 1820.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the Lord Chief
Baron Richards, ^Ir. Baron Garrdw, Mr. Justice
Richardson, and the Common Serjeant, took their
seats.

The prisoner, Brunt, was then put to the bar.
He was decently dressed in coloured clothes, and
had with him several papers, some of which were
closely written upon. He looked rather paler
than before, but preserved his accustomed com-
posure.

Mr. Shelton proceeded to call over the names
of the Jurymen in attendance. The first name
called, and to which there was no challenge on
the part of the prisoner or the Court, was Mr.
Alexander Barclay.

Mr. Barclay stated, that, as he had been on
the Jury by which Thistlewood had been tried,
he hoped he might be excused on the present
occasion.

Mr. Curwood said, that it was because he was
on the former Jury he wished him to be on the
present, as he would be enabled to see the differ-
ence of evidence.

The Solicitor-General said h: had no objection,

Mr. Barclay was then sworn ; and he was
foreman of this as well as the former Jury.

2 i'

2^)0 CATO STKJ-:CT COVSPIHACV.

Mr, Curwood exhausted his right of challengiap;
peremptorily before the Crown, on whose behalf
the last four challenges were made in succession.
As the Jurors were sworn, they were very atten-
tively noticed by the prisoner. After the chal-
lenges had been gone through, the following Jury
was impanelled :

* Alexander Barclay, of Teddington, grocer,
(foreman).

* Thomas Goodchild, Esq., North-End, Hen-
don.

* Thomas Suffield Aldersey, Lisson-grove, North,
Esq.

* James Herbert, Isleworth, carpenter.

* John Shooter, North-End, Hendon, gent.
James Wilmot, AVestern-road, Isleworth, mar-
ket-gardener.

* John Edward Shepherd, Eden-Grove, liollu-
way, gent.

* John Fowler, St. John-square, iron-plate-
worker,

* William Gibbs Roberts, Ropemeikcrs'-fields,
Limehousc, cooper.

John Dickenson, Colt-street, Limchouse, builder.
John Smith, John-street, Oxford-street, imder-
taker.

John Woodward, Upper-street, Islington.

Those gentlemea to whose names a * is prefixed served on the
fir^t. Jury.

Mr. Bolland immediately proceeded to open the
indictment against Brunt.

The Attorney-General then stated the case to
the Jury, going over all the facts already detailed
in the former trials, and commenting upon them
with great clearness and ingenuity. As soon as
he had concluded his address, the other prisoners
(untried) were brought into Court.

Robert Adams (the first witness against This-
tlewood and Ings) was put into the box. ;ind exa-

TKIM. OF BHi;\T. 291

mined by the Solu'ilor-Cjeneral. He detailed tbe
same story, in substance, which he gave on the
tbrmer trials ; adding some things which he had
then omitted, and varying a little his account of
others. In the course oi his evidence lie came to
that part where he described Brunt to have said,
that, if any officers came in there, he (uttering an
oath) would murder them, and they might be
easily disposed of afterwards, so as to prevent
their murder being discovered.

Brunt, (rising hastily from his seat at the bar)
— IMy Lords, can the witness look me in the face,
and look at those gentlemen (pointing to the Jury),
and say that 1 said this ?

Adams, (turning towards the prisoner, and lay-
ing his hand upon his breast) — 1 can, with a clear
and safe conscience.

Bnoit. — Then you are a bigger villain than I
e\en took you to be.

The Court here interiered to prevent any further
conversation between the parties.

Adams then continued his evidence. — When he
came to that ))art where he mentioned the hand-
grenades, he added — " I think it necessary here
to state, as Mr. Brunt thinks proper to deny what
1 have said, that he was the very man that took
the hand-grenades to Tidd's house ; for I followed
him all the way, and I saw, with iny own
eyes, Tidd's daughter put them in a box under
the window." [The witness uttered this with con-
siderable emphasis and action.] In relating the
arrangements which had been made for the murder
of ^Iinisters, and the subsequent proceedings
which were intended, he added — '■ I think it right
to state one circumstance, which escaped my
memory before. Ings [)roposed, that after the
heads of Lords Castlereagh and Sidmouth were
taken otl', they should be placed on a pole, and
carried through the streets. Thistlewood im-
proved the plan, and said that they should be

2 r • •

292 CATO-STREET CONSPIKACY.

carried on a pike behind the cannon in the
streets, to excite terror. On this Bradburn ob-
served, that, after they had used Lord Castle-
reagh's head, they would enclose it in a box, and
send it to Ireland. — Another circumstance which
he also omitted before was, that, by an arrange-
ment between Thistlewood and Cooke, it was
agreed, that, if Cooke succeeded in taking the
Mansion-house, he was to send an orderly to St.
Sepulchre's Church, where he was to be met by
another orderly, despatched by Thistlewood from
the west-end of the town ; and they were to con-
vey to the parties an account of the progress which
each had made in their stations.""

Cross-examined by Mr. Curw^ood. — On my
former examination I repented when I got home,
and before that. When 1 perceived the error of
my ways, I acknowledged it. Till I received that
infernal publication, Paine's Age of Reason, which
Tidd gave me, I M^as very particular. 1 was not,
however, so good a christian as I might have
been. The principles which Brunt, the prisoner
at the bar, endeavoured to instil into my mind
perverted my understanding. Brunt wished to
throw down the pillars of Christianity altogether.
I find my conscience satisfied at the atonement I
have made to my Maker. My satisfaction did
not m.erely arise from getting my neck out of the
halter. 1 never considered the assassinating of
men, in cold blood, to be consistent with the
principles of reason. On the 2d of January, the
prisoner told me that it was intended to murder
his Majesty's Ministers. I was introduced to
Thistlewood on the 12th: durmg the intermediate
^eriod often days, I had an opportunity of con-
sidering the plot. I did not discover it, owing to
the insinuations of Brunt. In that time, 1 attended
several meetings, and was a chairman at one of
them. Whenever I hinted any dislike to the
business, the parties were like madmen. I knew

lltlAL OK Bill NT. 293

Edwards, and saw him making hand-grenades.
I intended to put a stop to the business if pos-
sible ; but, at the same time, I wished to save
these people, and to avoid the trouble of the
trials here.

Re-examined by Mr. Gurney. — My mind was
perverted by Paine's Age of Reason, and Garbles
publication.

Eleanor Walker, Mary Rogers, Joseph Hale,
Thomas Sharp, Gharles Bisset, Henry Gillam,
Edward Simpson, and J. H. Morrison, gave
precisely the same evidence as they had given
on the former trials.

John Monumext, the accomplice, was brought
into Gourt in the custody of two wardens of the
Tower. He was examined by the Solicitor-
General, and gave precisely the same evidence
as he had done on the two preceding trials, rela-
tive to his connexion with the conspirators.

Gross-examined by ]\Ir. Gurwood. — I have read
Paine"s Age of Reason. It rather shook my faith ;
but it did not destroy it, because it was accom-
panied by the Bishop of Llandatf's Apologt/for the
Bible.

Tho.mas Monument, examined by the Solicitor-
General. — His testimony to-day was precisely the
same with that which he had given on the former
day, and fully corroborated that of his brother.
He was not cross-examined.

John Monument %vas then re-called, and re-
examined by the Solicitor-General, as to the
advice which had been given him by Thistlewood
to say that Edwards had taken him to the meeting.
He rejieated his former testimony, and added,
that Thistlewood told him to pass it round to the
other prisoners, that it was Edwards who had
betrayed them. Bradburn paid no attention to
this advice.

TnoMA> HvDEX, examined by Mr. Guiney,
repeated his former evidence. This is the man

294 CATO-SrUEET CONSPIRACV.

who gave information of the plot to Lords Har-
rowby and Castlereagh, of which he on this occa-
sion gave a detailed account.

Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood. — I know a
man of the name of Bennett, a bricklayer. I
asked him to go with me to the shoemakers' club.
I cannot swear that I did not ask him to go there,
because something was to be done there for the
good of the country. I wrote to Lord Harrowby
myself.

Here the learned Counsel asked him to write a
word or two. He did so. Mr. Curwood observed,
that he asked the question because he had been
informed that the witness could not write. He
had been mis-informed, and had now done with
the witness.

After the examination of this witness had
closed, he evinced a disposition to stay in Court,
on which the prisoner. Brunt, observed, " My
Lord, the witness stays in Court." Wilson then
rose, and said, with great indignation, " My
Lord, let that perjured villain be turned out of
Court." He then took his departure.

The^EARL of Harrowby was next called, and
repeated his former evidence.

John Baker, the butler to the Earl of Har-
rowby, corroborated his Lordship's evidence.

Richard Munday and George Caylock
proved the presence of the prisoner in Cato-
street on the evening on which the plot was dis-
covered.

George Ruthven, James Ellis, Thomas
Westcott, and others belonging to the police-
office in , Bow-street, were then examined as to
the seizure of the gang in Cato-street.

Captain Fitzclarexce repeated the evidence
which he had given on the former trial.

Mr. Gurney then stated to the Court, that the
case for the prosecution was closed, except so
far as related to the examination of the arms,

TRIAL OF BRL'NT. 295

ammunition, tj-c, which had been seized either in
Cato-street, or on the premises of the conspi-
rators. It would be more prudent to examine
them by day-liaht.

The Lord Chkf-Baron acquiesced in the pro-
position, and adjourned the Court till the next
day at nine o'clock.

Sfxoxd Day. — Tuesday, Apnl 25.

At nine o'clock in the morning the proceedings
were resumed. The arms and ammunition were
brought in, and underwent an inspection in pre-
sence of the Jury.

Mr. Gl RXEv proceeded to call

George Ruth vex, who had seized the arms
found in Cato-street. He identified certain arms
placed on the table of the Court as the arms
which he had seized, and repeated the evidence
wdiich he had given on the former trials. He also
produced the grenades.

Hector Morriso.v said, that he had sharpened
a sword, which was produced to him, from heel
to point, by desire of Ings.

Samuel Tauxtox produced several pike-
heads, fire-balls, cartridges, ^-c, which were
found at Brunt's and Tidd's lodgings, and re-
peated his former evidence.

Seroeaxt Haxson described the composition
of the fire-balls, and opened one of the grenades
for the satisfaction of the Jury. It contained
twenty-five pieces of old iron. He stated, that it
was quite clear that it had not been made by any
military man. His evidence was the same as it
had been on the former occasions.

The case for the prosecution was then closed.

29G CATO-STREET COXSPJItACr.

THE DEFENCE.

Mr. CuRwooD addressed the Jury on behalf of
the prisoner, and urged all those topics already-
detailed in his former speeches. He concluded
by calling a witness of the name of Jo his-
Benxett, who was accordingly sworn and put
into the box, but before his examination coifi-
menced,

Mr. Gurney begged to ask the purpose for
which this witness was called.

Mr. Curwood stated, that he was to contradict
part of the testimony given by the witness Hyden,
in his cross-examination.

Mr. Gurney observed, that he had a few ob-
servations to make regarding the relevancy of
the evidence of this witness, and therefore
desired that he might be ordered to withdraw for
a few moments from Court.

The witness accordingly withdrew.
Mr. Gurney then observed, that he conceived
that this witness was called to prove that Hyden
had asked him to go with him to the shoemakers'-
club, because something would be done there for
the good of the country. Nov/ Hyden refused to
swear that he had not used such expressions ;
he said that he thought that he had not, but he
could not positively tell. Supposing then that
Bennett were to prove the words imputed by the
learned Counsel to Hyden, he would not prove
any thing which would invalidate Hyden's
testimony. He therefore hoped that his learned
friend would not waste the time of the Court bv
calling this witness.

Mr. Curwood stated, that Hyden had sworn
that he had never made use of the words imputed
to him. He, therefore, intended tf^ rail i?j'iri/:>r./-/>
to prove thaf he Had.

TRIAl. OF nRLNT. 297

The Judges then referred tu their notes, and
after examination of them, said that Mr. Curwood
was mistaken in his opinion as to Hyden's words ;
they were to the effect stated by ^Ir. Gurney.

Mr. Curwood then dechncd to call Bennet,
and said that he had no other witness to ex-
amine.

Mr. Adolphus then shortly addressed the
Jury on the same side with Mr. Curwood. He
took a comprehensive view of the whole of the
evidence ; denied that the evidence of Adams,
the accomplice, was entitled to the slightest
credit ; and contended that, as it was not sup-
ported by more credible witnessess, the offence
of which the prisoner had been guilty, however
great, did not amount to the charge in the in-
dictment of high treason. lie concluded his
address, in which he displayed much zeal and
ability, by appealing to the Jury on the danger
to society of receiving the unsupported evidence
of an avowed accomplice, in a crime of a nature
so serious as that with which the prisoner stood
charged. lie entreated them not to convict the
prisoner because he was a bad man, but to ex-
amine how far the charge against him had been
substantiated.

A Juror rose and observed, that there ^^ as no
evidence in the present case of the ammunition
having been brouglit back to Brunt's house.

The Chief-Baron said there was not, or oi
several other matters alleged, which he would
advert to afterwards.

Mr. Adolphus said he had no intention of over-
stating any point; that he had been unavoidably
absent during part of the trial, and that might
have occasioned some inaccuracies —

The Solicitor-General interposed, and iVIr
Adolphus sat down without any further remark.

While Mr. Adolphus \\as delivering his address,
•2 Q

298 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACV.

Mr. Harmer's clerk delivered to the prisoner a
written paper, which he began to read ; but he
did not seem to view its contents with much
attention.

The Chief Baron addressing the prisoner, said,
" John Thomas Brunt; your learned counsel
have concluded their very able defence ; but if
you wish to say any thing in your own defence,
this is the time."

The prisoner then rose and spoke as follows : —

*' My Lord, I have had a defence put into my
hands only a few minutes ago, which I have not
had time to peruse over. Yet I have two or three
observations to make respecting the evidence —
particularly respecting the evidence of Monu-
ment. It's quite useless for me to deny that I
was in the room in Cato-street ; but immediately
on the arrival of Monument in Cato-street, he ap-
proached me, and asked me what was going to be
done, when he saw the arms on the bench ; to
which I replied, that I was not aware of any thing
being going to be done, for that Edwards had not
brought so many men by thirty as he stated he
would bring, and that it was not my intention to
endeavour to do any thing with so few men. I
would not be led by any individual. Accordingly,
perceiving that Monument betrayed a great deal
of fear, I persuaded him to go away.

** My Lord, a considerable stress has been laid
upon what I said respecting the number of men
who were to go to Lord Harrowby's house. This
I declare was not true. I will admit, my Lord,
that when Thistlewood, as has been stated, ad-
dressed himself to the few men who were there,
and spoke, as the witness said, that if they did
not go it would be another Despard job, that some
few men did go into the small room; but, my
Lord, it never came into my mind, I solemnly
protest, to go there. They were endeavouring to
see if fourteen or fifteen men were disposed to go

THIAI. OF BUl.'XT. 299

to the square ; but I would not agree to a plan
which I knew must expose these few individuals
to instant death.

" I will now call your Lordship's attention to
two circumstances respecting the conduct of
myself. In the first place, Adams says, in order
to implicate me more deeply, that I declared that
I would go into the room and blow the house about
their ears. This, my Lord, is false. For you see
that when Monument comes forward, he makes a
declaration to you, gentlemen of the Jury, that I
declared I would go myself and bury myself in
the ruins. Is this consistent ? — is it upon such
evidence as this, that you will deprive a son of a
father, and a wife of a husband?

" I should wish to advert to another circum-
stance. While I was in Coldbath-fields prison, —
when I was there for nearly three days, during
which I was scarcely out of my room, even to
wash myself. When I came down out of my
room to the fire I saw iVlonument; I saw Strange;
I saw Cooper; I saw Bradburn. Monument, my
Lord, came to me, and sat himself down close by
mt, and whispered in my ear these words : he
said. ' What did you say when you came before
the Privy Council V 1 says, * That I said I knew
nothinii- about the matter.' This, my Lord, in-
duced me to ask Monument what he said ? and 1
says, ' M hat did you say ? upon which ho says,
* 1 could sav nothiiig — you t(;ki me nothing. M'ljy
did you not tell me more ?' 1 says, ' It were im-
possible ior me to tell you what I did not know
mvself. You know very well, that when you saw
the man call on us to go into the small room 1 de-
clined.'

"' I admit, as v/as said by Adams, that I was
one that was named to go to the house; but,
gentlem.en of the .luiy, you were not told that he
was the villain who so named me, and that he
constantlv came to mv house twice a-day, although

300 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACif.

he now conies to give evidence to deprive me of
my life.

" I am no traitor — I v^as determined, w^hen I
entered into this base plot, that I w^ould lose my
life sooner tiian I would betray an individual. I
would be put to death — I would die on the rack,
rather than I would betray a fellow-creature.
This is my principle. This shews the intention
of Monument to betray me.

" Now, my Lord, I come to advert to a circum-
stance which occurred to me at Cambray, in
France. It becomes me to state any thing which
may be of use to me and my fellow-prisoners.
While I was in Cambray, in France, my Lord, I
met Adams when I first came from Paris. Adams
worked for the ofHcers, and I assisted him in work
which he was incapable of performing himself.
He afterwards became so jealous, that he threat-
ened to take my life, and I was obliged to leave
the house, which I did, and I never worked for
him again. I afterwards went from Cambray to
Lisle, where I worked for an English tradesman
of the name of Brailsford. I worked for him two
or three months, until I got a little money. During
this time I knew nothing of Adams.

*' When I came home 1 found that my wife had
lost her senses, and was in St. Luke's, in conse-
quence of her having heard that my son and
myself had been assassinated in France. 1 settled
myself, and my wife shortly after came out. I
got a good seat of work, and at this time I was
persuaded to receive, as my apprentice, Hale, the
witness, who has been called to you.

Here the prisoner entered into some details
relative to the character (jf the relations of Hale,
in which he was interrupted by the Chief Baron,
upon the principle, that these persons were in no
way coiniccted with the ])resent case. He then
went on to detail a variety of acts on the part of
his apprentice, all tending to prove him a person

TRIAL OF BRUNT. 301

of bad character, and unworthy of credit, to which
he said, if he had the means, he could bring evi-
dence. He then spoke as follows : —

" Of Ilyden 1 know nothing-. Here he again
referred to the written defence with whicii he had
been furnished. He said he had not had time to
read it, but continued.

** I wish to advert to a person of the name of
Edwards, who was the first person that ever insti-
gated me to enter into this snare. This Mr. Ed-
wards I first saw in company with Mr. Thistle-
wood, at the White Lyon in Wych-street. This
Edwards came to my lodging in Fox-court. I
was very short of work, and he used frequently to
call on me — such a thing as two or three times
a-day ; and this was long before the back room was
taken. If I was not at home he would wait for
me ; and often followed me to places where I went
for work. This was the case at the house of a
gentleman of the name of Scott, who saw him,
and asked me if he was waiting for me ? and said,
' Why does he not come in?'

" This man constantly harassed me, and often-
times, my Lord, he supplied me with money. He
told me, and I can bring other people to prove it,
that he suid that if he could get a hundred such
men as me, he could do anv thing. He considered
me a staunch man, my Lord, and thought, I sup-
pose, tiiat I was a fit man to make a prey of. He
often took me out to call on peoj)le, and to treat
them with drink. This was his constant practice.
He was continually with me before this business;
and I solemnly declare, that this was the indi-
vidual, and not Mr. Thistlewood, who brought me
into this plot.

" 1 must now, my Lord, advert to wliat look
jiiace in Cato-street, and to his (Edwards's) con-
iUict on that evenhiu'. I will state nothin<^but the
•ruth.

" M\ Lord, from the diH'crcnt favours I re-

302 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

ceil ed from Edwards, I had a good opinion of
the man. When the officers came up into the
room in Cato-street, I made my escape in the
best manner I could. .5 I did not make my escape,
however, hke a coward or a traitor, I did not
desert my companions. I went immediately to
Grosvenor-square, where I knew this villain was,
although I shall, probably, by his means, be sent
into another world very shortly. I went to the
villain, and told him what had happened ; at
which he seemed very much surprised, and left
the square with me.

** Shortly after up came Thistlewood and another
person, who was in the room in Cato-street ; but
who has not since been taken, nor never will I
dare say, my Lord. How^ever, we proceeded
from Grosvenor-square, and he took us into
several wine-vaults to drink ; I now believe,
merely for some person to identify us. I then
went to Fox-court, Holborn, where I had not been
many minutes, when, as my apprentice stated,
another man came in, who said he had received a
violent blow in the side. But my apprentice has
not stated, as the fact was, that the very indivi-
dual who came on the stairs and called us out, was
Edwards.

" We went with him ; and, on going into
Holborn, there we. met a man of the name of
Palin, and three more individuals with him. We
went altogether into Mr. Thompson's wine-vaults,
opposite St. Andrew's Church, on Ilolborn-hill.
We drank some small glasses of liquor. When
we came out of the shop, we were followed
very shortly by Edwards, who called me on one
side, and said he wished to speak to me. I heard
what he had to say. He began to find fault with
Palin, who was drunk. He declared that he was
the man that had betrayed us, and that he was
unworthy to live. He said, that, to prevent
treachery, he ought to be made away whh.

TKIAI. OF BRUNT. 303

" From that we walked on till we came to
Little Britain, or somewhere thereabouts. We
came to a dark place, where Edwards said that
Cook lived ; but I did not know myself. He
urged me again respecting Palin, who still re-
mained much intoxicated. He said to me, that it
would be the safest way to ])ut him out of the
world. He urged me several times to assassinate
Palin. He then put his hand in his pocket, and
pulled out a brass-barrelled loaded pistol, with
which he told me to assassinate Palin. He like-
wise offered me as word-stick ; and he said, ' If
you put him out of the world, we shall be safe.'
He also shewed me a constable's staff; and said,
' I will act in the same capacity as I did in
Grosvenor-square ; and, if there is any alarm, I
will officiate as an officer, and you may depend
on it no discovery will take place.'

'* Finding he entreated me to be guilty of
murder, I made this reply: ' If you consider
Palin a villain, the weapons are in good hands.'
Finding he could not entreat me to commit
murder, he says, ' I must wish you a good night; I
am going to conduct Thistlewood to some secret
place.' As he had always appeared to be a par-
ticular friend of Mr. Thistlewood's, I thought he
was the most proper person to do this.

" Knowing of no evil intention myself against
any individual, I was determined not to know
where he went ; and I consented to bid him good
night. I then went home. Edwards afterwards
came to me, and whispered to me, and told me
that he thought Palin and Potter had betrayed us,
and that he had not the smallest doubt of it. He
then advised me to send the articles which were
found in the basket in the back-room, and which
my apprentice has described, over to a place in
the Borough, which I was going to do, but after-
wards abandoned that intention.

" This is all I wish to say respecting what I

304 CATO-STREET COXSVIRACY.

know of the plot. Now Edwards was the man
who always found money, and who went abont to
old-iron shops, buying- pistols and swords, and
other things for the men who could not afford
to buy them themselves.

** This, I declare before God, whose awful tri-
bunal I shall, in all probability, ere long, be sum-
moned to attend, is the truth. Should I die by
this case, I have been seduced by a villain, who, I
have no doubt, has been employed by Govern-
ment. I could not have abused confidence re-
posed in me; and, if I die, I slmll die not
unworthy the descendant of an ancient Briton I
Sooner than I would betray a fellow-man, I would
rather suffer a thousand deaths ! This is all that
I wish to say."

The prisoner delivered the last part of his
speech with great energy, striking his clenched
fist on the board before iiim. lie then took his
seat with perfect composure, holding in his hand
the defence which he had made no use of

The Chief Baron began to sum up the evi-
dence ; but, while his Lordshi[) was proceed-
ing. Brunt said, " My Lord, there are some of
the witnesses for the prosecution in Court ; and,
as their hearing the evidence summed up may
prejudice the trial of some of my I'ellow-prisoners,
I hope your Lordship will order them to with-
draw."

Mr. Gurncy. — ]\[y Lord, they are oiily those
witnesses who were ])ermittcd to remain by
common consent ; tliey are the ofFicers,

The Lord Chief Baron. — They are only those
whom your Counsel have consented to remain.

Mr. Baron Garrow repeated the same obser-
vation to the prisoner, who bowed respectfully to
the Court, and resumed his seat.

The CiiiKF ]Uron began his charge to the
Jury by telling them, that this was not con-
structive treason. A nefarious assnssinntiou \n as

TRIAL OF BRUNT. 305

admitted by the Counsel for the prisoner, and by
the prisoner himself, to have been intended ; an
assassination of some of the most honourable and
the most amiable of the King's subjects.

His Lordship then read the evidence.
In recapitulating the evidence of Adams, his Lord-
ship observed, upon that part where he (Adams)
mentioned *' that he had been induced to give up
Christianity by reading that infernal work, Paine's
Age of Reason, and the writings of Carlile," that
the circumstance was important for the considera-
tion of the Jury. They would weigh every part
of his testimony with jealousy,^ considering the
situation in which he was placed, and look upon
his statement as requinng corroborative proof.
Unless it was supported by such evidence, they
would, of course, receive it with considerable hesi-
tation ; but if they found it corroborated by the evi
dence of unsuspected witnesses, they would consi
der of it accordingly. His Lordship then went
through the evidence of the other witnesses, remark-
ing upon those parts where they coincided with the
account given by Adams. He then adverted to
the arguments of the prisoner's Counsel, and to
the observations of the prisoner himself; which
latter (though, perhaps, it might not have pro-
duced the impression which they could have
wished, for the sake of the prisoner) they would
give every attention to.

As soon as his Lordship concluded, and before
the Jury retired, one of them addressed the Court :
" My Lord, I hope your Lordship will allow me to
ask a question as to a point of law.

Jlie Lord Cldef Baron. — Certainly, Sir; any
thing you please.

Juror. — My Xord, we are bound to take the
law from your Lordship, and no doubt you will
give it to us most correctly. I wish to know whe-
ther, if the evidence bore out that an arming had
taken place, and that there was a resistance to

2 R

30G CATO-STREET CONSTIRACY.

the civil power, would that, in the law, be u
levying of war ?

The Lord Chief Baron. — Undoubtedly, After a
short pause, his Lordship said, '* Gentlemen, do
I understand the question rightly ? Please to
repeat it again/*

The Juror repeated the question ; and his
Lordship replied, that a resistance to the civil
authority would not constitute a levying of war.

The Juror. — My Lord, if there was an arming
for the purpose of inducing his Majesty to change
his measures, would that be a levying of war ?

The Lord Chief Baron. — That, gentlemen, w^ould
constitute a levying of \v2c: ; and, if you believe
that it was proved in evidence, it would support
the indictment under the Act of his late Majesty.
I put only the first and third counts to you, gen-
tlemen, not to embarrass the case.

The same Juror. — I would wish to consider the
whole of the indictment. I hope your Lordship
will excuse my asking these questions.

The Lord Chief Baron. — Certainly, gentlemen,
it is your province to consider the whole of the
case before you. You have also an undoubted
right to ask any questions you may think neces-
sary.

The Jury then retired at twenty minutes l^efore
four; and in about ten minutes returned with a
verdict of GUILTY on the THIRD and FOURTH
COUNTS.

The prisoner's appearance was in no degree
altered by the annunciation of the verdict. He
bowed slightly to the Court, and was removed in
the care of tw^o of the gaoler's assistants.

3(t7

TRIAL OF R. TIDD AND W. DAVIDSON.

SI'SSIONS-IIOUSE, OLD BAILEY.

Fint Daj/, Wtihicsdai/, April CG, 1 820.

At ten minutes after nine o'clock, ]\Ir. Baron
C J arrow, Mr. Justice Best, and the Common-
Serjeant, took their seats on the bench; the
Attorney-General, Mr. Gurney, and i\Ir. Bolland,
and the prisoner's counsel, Messrs. Adolphus and
Curwood, appeared in Court at the same time.

After a short consultation between Mr. Cur-
wood and the Attorney-General, Mr. Harmer
quitted the Court, and proceeded to commune
with the prisoners in the gaol.

During the absence of Mr. Ilarmer, Mr. Baron
Garrow addressed the gentlemen who were
waiting to be called on as Jurors. " They
mio-ht," he said, " feel some surprise at the delay,
and the Bench, therefore, felt it right to declare
that the present interruption was caused entirely
by an application made by the prisoners' counsel.
He hoped that the Jury would not consider the
delay as intended to convey any want of respect
towards them.

One of the Jurors said, he hoped the Court
would allow them to sit down, as many of them
iiad come a considerable distance to attend the
Court.

Mr. Baron Garrow said, that the Court felt
every disposition to accommodate, in every pos-
sible manner, the uvntlemen of the Jury, and

1 1! l>

308 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

requested them to occupy the seacs vacant in the
Court.

Soon afterwards Mr. Harmer returned to Court,
and communicated to Mr. Curwood the result of
his conference.

Mr. Curwood then, addressing Mr. Baron
Garrow, stated, that a proposition, which he had
thought for the benefit of his chents, had been
acceded to by them, and that two of them (Tidd
and Davidson) were willing to take their trials at
the same time.

Mr. Baron Garrow then addressed the Jury-
men, and said, " Gentlemen, I may now com-
municate to you that which it would have been
improper to have made known to you before.
The learned gentleman who appears here for the
prisoners, and whose exertions you have
witnessed upon more occasions than one, has
thought fit to consult his clients as to whether it
is necessary to pursue the course which has
already been adopted in severing their challenges,
or whether two of them might not take their trial
by the same Jury. By this pause we have in
effect saved time, for the two next prisoners have
agreed not to sever their challenges, but to be
tried at the same time."

The prisoners, Tidd and Davidson, were then
put to the bar ; Mr. Shelton called over the list
of the Jurors, and after a number of challenges
on both sides, the following Jury was ultimately
impanelled —

*W. Percy, Cleveland-street, Mary-le-bone,
plasterer.

J. G. Holmden, St. James's-walk, ClerkenwcU,
fussee-cutter.

J. King, Islington-road, Gent.

C. E. Prescott, Colney-hatch, Esq.

* Benjamin Rogers, Lampton, farmer.

Charles Goldings, Jamaica-place, Limehousc,
surveyor.

TIUAL OF TIDl) AND PAVIDSOX. ;>09

Charles Page, Crouch- end, Esq. and mer-
chant.

* J. Young, Frederick-place, St. Pancras,
Gent.

William Butler, Hounslow, baker.
Joseph Sheffield.
. William ChurchiU.

* Samuel Grainger.

The Jurors thus marked * had served on soaie of the previous
trials.

Davidson asked whetlier the Court would
allow him and his fellow-prisoner to sit down.
The Court complied with his request, and chairs
were brought to them.

Mr. Gurney having stated the case with great
clearness and ingenuity, he proceeded to call the
witnesses for the Crown — beginning with,

Robert Adams. His evidence was the same
as before, with some additions. He said, that
when the proposition was made for assassinating
the Ministers, it was added, that they had found
out where they kept their specie, and that they
were to return and plunder it. Bradburn was
to make a box for the purpose of sending Castle-
reagh's head to Ireland.

In cross-examination by Mr. Curwood,hesaidhe
came back to the belief in Christianity about the 24th
of February — the day after he was in marvellous
great danger of being hanged. The halter might
have had some effect. It was never lawful in his
sight to sweep off fifteen men in cold blood. He
thought it was a cruel act when it was proposed.
Nevertheless, from the 12th of January to the
23d of February, he still continued to frequent
the society in which that matter was debated,
lie was once a chairman. The largest body he
ever saw collected was in Cato-street. There
was a talk of a great many more, but he did not
know them by name. His single sword was all
he agreed to contribute. He never heard where

3

10 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

Mr. Cook's party were to come from. Nobody
objected to the proclamation written by This-
tlewood — ** Your tyrants are destroyed," ^c.

He did not know a man of the name of Cham-
bers, nor did he ever call upon such a man, and
say he would have ** wine and blood for supper,"
and solicit him to join in this plot. His object
in joining their parties was, to search further into
the principles of Brunt ; he joined them because
he had a foolish and curious idea to know what
Brunt's principles were ; and for this reason he
joined in this plot. He did not know a man of
the name of Watman. Tidd did not say he had
been deceived in the loft in Cato-street ; but he
said, *' it never can be done."

Tidd and Davidson now both expressed a wisli
to ask the witness some questions;

Mr. Baron Garrow humanely interposed, and
suggested whether, for their own advantage, it
would not be more consistent with prudence to
put their questions through their Counsel, as
they might do something prejudicial to them-
selves.

The prisoners both thanked his Lordship, and
communicated to Mr. Harmer's clerk, the in-
quiries which they wished to be made.

The witness then, in answer to questions put
by Mr. Curwood, said, that he could not say that
Davidson was armed in Cato-street ; he did not
notice any arms.

In re-examination by the Solicitor- General, he
said that Davidson brought 500 bullets to Fox-
court, on the 22d of February. He had changed
his religion in consequence of reading Paine's
Ap;c of Reason, which was put into his hand by the
]nisoner Tidd; he did not see Palin, or Cook, or
l*otter, in Cato-street; he did not know of what
numl^crs their parties consisted.

J^^LKAxou Walker, Mary "Rogers, Josci'ii
Hale, (apprentice to Brunt), were thou culltd ;

TIUAT- OF TIDD AMD DAVIDSOX. oil

they repeated their former testimony as to the
presence oi" Davidson and Tidd at the meetings in
Fox-court.

Hale, in cross-examination by Mr. Curwood,
said, that Edwards was ottener at the meetings in
Fox-court than Adams.

Thomas Smart and Charles Bissex, watcli-
men in Grosvenor-square, were next called. They
were followed by Hector Morrison, servant to
Mr. Underwood, the cutler ; Henry Cillan, of
Mount-street, Grosvenor-scjuare ; Edward Si^np-
son, James Aldous (paw-nbroker), John Monu-
ment, and Thomas Hyden, who communicated the
plot to Lord Harrowby. The last witness, in
cross-examination, said, that he had known Wilson
for a long time. He agreed to join in the plot to
>>ave himself. One evening at his friend Clark's
he was accused of not supporting the committee,
and Davidson said, " those that did not come for-
ward woukl be the men that they would first mur-
der." This made him agree to what Wilson said.

He knew a man named Bennet, but he never
did ask him to attend ' a private radical meeting.'
He believed, he said, he miglit speak or not speak
when he was there, as he chose. He did not say
"• Radical meeting,"' nor did he say that he must
take up arms, if he were called upon so to do ; he
did not recollect saying so ; he had no recollection
that lie ever did say so.

In re-examination, witness said he had been
twice at a shoemakers'-club, where he saw David
son, Wilson, and Harrison. This club was held
at a public-house, called the Scotch Arms, in a
court in the Strand. He asked Bennet to go
there with him, and Clark ; that was four or five
or six months ago.

Thomas Monument, Loru Harrowiu', and
.louy Baker, his Lordsliij)"s butler, were next
examined, in confirmation oi' the former wit-
nesses; and these were followed by the officers

312 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY,

and other persons who were present at the occur-
rences in Cato-street, and the subsequent arrest of
Brunt and Thistlewood.

Tidd, in reference to Ruthven's evidence, said,
that Ruthven, on searching him, had said, " Curse
me, here's nothing here but a tobacco-box."

Ruthven, on being asked by Mr. Baron Garrow,
denied that he had made use of any such expres-
sion.

The Attorney-General now addressed their
Lordships, and stated, " that the case for the
Crown had now been concluded, with the ex-
ception of producing the arms and ammunition
found in Cato-street and elsewhere. As it was
now late, (five o'clock) the Court would perhaps
defer the production of these things till the next
morning."

Mr. Baron Garrow : — *' Gentlemen of the Jury,
the case for the prosecution is now closed, all but
the production of the arms. If by sitting late
there were any probability of bringing the trial to
a close this night, I should consult you as to the
propriety of doing so ; but as we cannot finish it
by sitting late, and thereby exhausting ourselves,
this is the best time for adjourning.

Davidson stood up and addressed the Court : —
** My Lord, as I have been taken by surprise, I
am quite unprepared with my witnesses. I hope
you will allow my wife to see me this night, that
notice may be given them to attend.''

Mr. Baron Garrow : — " The Court has no power
to make any order on the subject you have men-
tioned ; but I can say that care will be taken that
any proper person may be admitted to you for any
proper purpose."

The Court then adjourned till nine the next
morning,

Davidson took notes during the day, and fre-
quently sent communications to his counsel. He
conducted himself altogether '.vith great compo-

TIir\f. or TIDD AND DAVIP^OV- 'i 1 •>

sure dnd ])ropncty. lie ])aid close attention, and
made his reniarksj, both verbally and in writing",
without effort or confusion,

Tidd seemed to have perfect self-possession,
but a flush that occasionally animated his face in-
dicated some hurry and eagerness of mind.

Second Day. — Thursday, April 27, 1820.

This morning the Conrt assembled in pursu-
ance of adjournment, at nine o'clock. The pri-
soners, Tidd and Davidson were immediately put
to the bar. They were provided with chairs as on
the preceding day. Davidson had a bible in his
hand, which appeared to have been much read,
and in the leaves of which were several marks.
He had also a large book composed of sheets of
paper sewn together, in which there appeared to
be a good deal of writing, and in which lie occa-
sionally wrote while in court.

The armS; ammunition, and other materials of
war, found in Cato-strect, and in othen^ places,
connected with the machinations of the prisoners,
were brought into court previous to the arrival of
the judges.

The Court having been opened in the customary
form, RuTHVEN, the Bow-street officer, was
called, and described the arms and other articles
taken in Cato-street, and on the persons ot the ])ri-
soners. These were again separately exhibited
to the Jury.

Samuel Tai xton selected the ball cartridges,
hand grenades, ])ike handles, and arm^-, found in
the lodgings of Tidd, at Hole-in-lhc-wall-passage,
Brook's-market. We have already given tfeir
enumeration. The long sword and carbine, taken
from Davidson when he was apprehended by Ellis
and Chapman in Cato-street, as well as the pistol

2 s

314 CATO-STHEET CONSPIRACY.

taken from Tidd, after he had attempted to dis-
charge it at Lieutenant Fitzclarence, were next
produced, and underwent a minute inspection.

Sergeant Hanson was next called; he re-
peated his description of the fire-balls, and
the probable effects which would result from
their being thrown upon buildings. He also ex-
plained the nature of the powder in flannel bags,
which, as before, he stated were cartridges for
six pounders. He then opened one of the hand-
grenades, and exhibited its component parts to
the Jury. This one was only armed with lour
large spike nails, but some of the others which
were opened had no less than twenty-iive separate
pieces of old iron enfolded within the outer wrap-
pings of rope-yarn. The large grenade, weighing
nearly fourteen pounds, and constructed in the
same way, but upon a larger scale, was not in-
spected.

Mr. Gurney announced that he had closed the
evidence on the part of the Crown,

THE DEFENCE.

Mr. CuRwooD rose to address the Jury on the
part of the prisoners. He said, " that he had now
rose for the fourth time, to urge those topics on
behalf of the unfortunate men at the bar, which he
had previously submitted to other Juries in the
course of these trials. The force of those topics
remained in his mind undiminished ; he was still
conscientiously satisfied, that the charge of high
treason in these cases was alone supported by
the testimony of Adams, — a man, the infamy of
whose character ought in his estimation, to de-
prive him of all claims to credit.

The learned gentleman then went over the dif-
ferent points of the evidence, and contended with
great ingenuity, *' that whatever might have been
the diabolical intentions of the prisoners — how-

1 HI A I, OF T I Dl) AND DAVIDSON. BIT)

ever ready they might have been to inflict ven-
geance on those wliom tlicy might suppose to be
the authars of those mclanclioly transactions, but
too frequently designated as ' the IVIanchester
Massacre/ — yet, that in all these things there
was nothing in reason or common sense, that
could lead to a fair and rational conclusion that
they had it in contemplation cither to compass
and imagine the death of the king, or to levy war
against the king.

" If the Jury, under all the circumstances, enter-
tained with him this opinion, he had no doubt
they would not hesitate to acquit the prisoners."

During the time Mr. Curwood was addressing
the Jury, Davidson took from his pocket a Bible,
into several parts of which he inserted small
pieces of paper, for the purpose of enabling him to
turn more readily to certain passages which he
intended to quote in his defence.

Mr. Ado LP II us now called the witnesses for
the defence.

Mary Barker, the daughter of Tidd, deposed,
that she knew Edwards and Adams. Edwards
left at her father's house, about a fortnight before
the affair in Cato-street, a number of grenades and
some powder. Adams also left a very large gre-
nade. They were to be called for again. Ed-
wards took them once away, and brought them
back afterwards. They were taken away again
on the 23d of February by Edwards ; and some
were brought back on the morning of the 24th,
about a quarter of an hour before the officers came.
She did not know the person by whom they were
brought back. A box remained which had never
been opened.

As the witness left the Court she squeezed her
father's hand. They both seemed much afiecled.
Tears came into the eves of Tidd, which he

2 s"'2

316 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

endeavoured to suppress. The daughter was in
an agony of grief.

Thomas Chambers deposed, that he lived in
Ileathcote-court, Strand; Edwards and Adams
repeatedly called upon him. They came together
to his house about a week before the Cato-street
business, when Edwards said, " Won't you go
along with us? Witness said, '* Go where?"
when Edwards answered, " Oh, you must know
that there is something on foot." He replied,
he did not; when Adams said, " We are going
to kill his Majesty's Ministers, and we shall
have blood and wine fop supper." Edwards said,
" By , Adams, you're right." On the Mon-
day before the Cato-street business they came
again. Edwards brought with him a bag, which
he wished to leave with witness. He asked what
it contained ; when Edwards said, ** Only some
pistols, and things of that sort." Witness would
not receive it, and they went away. He saw no
more of them.

In cross-examination, witness said, " I believe
1 have been sworn on the prayer-book. I never
was sworn before above twice ; I believe in Chris-
tianity. I was brought up in the christian faith,
and continue in it. I am no member of any fac-
tion. I never saw Paine's works. I know the
two prisoners. Davidson I know since the time
of Mr. Hunt's procession. Tidd I have known
only in the trade. I cannot say how long ; I
might have known him at the Smithfield Meeting,
and elsewhere. I attended all the meetings held
in the open air. I scorn all secret meetings. I
know Thistlewood, Ings, Harrison, Strange, and
l^radburn. I carried banners in some of the
[)rocessions. I carried no weapons. Thistle-
wood has been repeatedly at my house. I took
all the Hags to my house. I saw him also at tlie
fUack Dog, in Gray's inn-lane. I used to freqiuMit

TRIAL OF TIDD AND DAVIDSON. ol/

the White Lion, in Wych-street ; I went to attend
the meetings there. They called themselves Re-
formers. I was always in the waggons with
Hunt. When I refused to go with Adams and
Edwards to kill his Majesty's Ministers, I did not
think they would ever get any persons to be so
foolish as to join them. I may be a great fool,
but not foolish enough to enter into such a
scheme. I did not communicate the project to
any magistrate. I never heard any thing said
against his Majesty's Ministers, more than what
I saw in the newspapers. I do not [read Paine's
works ; I only read Cobbett, and have a drawer
full of them. I also read the Prayer-book and
Bible."

John Bexxett deposed, that heknewHyden;
he called on him to ask him to accompany him to
a private radical meeting. He endeavoured to
persuade him to go more than ten times. He told
him, that he might hear and see what was doing ;
but he need not speak unless he liked.

Several witnesses were now called to the gene-
ral character of the prisoners.

Mr. Cook, of Charlotte-street, Blackfriars"-
road, knew Davidson six years ago ; he then
worked for him, and was an industrious hard-
working man. He had not known much of him
since.

Mr. M'W^iLLiAM, an architect, knew Davidson
at Aberdeen, in the years 1800 and 1801 ; he was
then studying mathematics ; he had only seen
him three or four times since in the streets, and
was surprised to have been called on to give him
a character. Davidson was, at the time he was
at Aberdeen, an apprentice to a cabinet-maker.
He had been at college, and had, in I\Ir, M 'Wil-
liam's estimation, " a gigantic mind.'

Stethen Hale, William French, and Sa-
muel Lands, spoke to the general correctness of
the conduct of Tidd in private life. He was an

318 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

honest, industrious, hard-working man, and ap-
parently much attached to his family. Other
witnesses were expected, but did not attend.

Mr. Adolphus addressed the Jury on behalf
of the prisoners. His speech was marked by an
acute examination of the whole of the evidence,
a just and forcible reprobation of the atrocity of
a betraying accomplice, and an energetic and
powerful appeal to the Jury, not to condemn men
on the evidence of an avowed conspirator, who
had broken the bonds of society, forfeited his
allegiance to his Sovereign, and his duty to God.
The learned gentleman, in the course of a very
eloquent speech of an hour and a half, remarked
that it would be the last time he should appear
on these trials.

Baron Garrow then addressed the prisoner as
follows : — '* William Davidson, the law of Eng-
land, in its excessive tenderness to persons in-
dicted for high treason, has allowed them privi-
leges of defence not extended to other cases. If,
therefore, in addition to the able defence of your
Counsel, you wish to say any thing, now is the
time. Do it deliberately, and the Court will hear
you attentively."

Davidson then rose, greatly agitated, and spoke
nearly as follows : — ** I am much obliged to your
Lordship, and will call your attention to a few
particulars in this instance. My Lord, from my
life up, I have always maintained the character
of an industrious and inoffensive man I have no
friends in England, but have always depended
upon my own exertions for support. I have an
extensive family, and for their sake alone is my
life a value to me.

" The charge which has been brought against
me> I can lay my hand upon my heart, and, in
the presence of that God whom I revere, say 1
am not guilty of. Concerning how I came in

TRIAL OF TIDD AND DAVIDSOX. 31 D

possession of the blunderl)uss I will state. I had
a friend, whose name is Williamson, who told me
he had bought an old blunderbuss, which was all
over rust. He was going to the Cape of Good
Hope, and gave it to me to clean.

" I have been doing business for myself for the
last five years, and that is the reason I cannot
bring any more of my employers than Mr. Cook
to speak in my behalf. To IMr. Edwards I owe
being brought into this situation. I never knew
any thing of him till I attended Mr. Hunt's pro-
cession ; that was the first time I ever went into
public in my life. ]\Ir. Edwards told me that
he would take me to a place to have this
blunderbuss raffled for. When I went to the
place, I there saw Mr. Thistlewood for the second
time ; I had previously seen him at Mr. Hunt's
dinner. I saw Mr. Adams there also, but I knew
none of the others. Mr. Edwards proposed to
commence raflfling for the blunderbuss ; but, as
they did not put down any money, I would not
agree. 1 then heard a great deal of improper
language, and would not stop.

" I went to Mr. Williamson, who was waiting
to know the result, and told him what had
passed. He then said that he wanted to get some
money, and I proposed pledging the blunderbuss
with a pawnbroker. He agreed, and requested
me to take it for him. I did so, and got seven
shillings upon it from Mr. Aldous, who knew me.
The money I gave to Mr. Williamson. I after-
wards went to see Mr. Williamson on board the
Belle Alliance, which was about to sail for the
Cape. He made me a present of the ticket.

" On the 22d of February, Edwards called
upon me, and told [me that he had been to see
Mr. Williamson, and that he had given him an
order to get the ticket for the blunderbusss. I
said very well, and consented to go and get it
out of pledge for him, as, he said, he was to get

320 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

ten shillings by it, part of which I was to have,
and he gave seven shillings and two-pence for
that purpose. He told me to meet him at the
corner of Oxford-street, which I did ; when he
said he would take me to Fox-court, where there
was a countryman of mine ; a man of colour he
meant. I objected to going.

" My Lord, I never associated with men of
colour, although one myself, because I always
found them very ignorant.

*' I now pass over to the sword concern ; I
shall state the truth. On a Monday after the
Manchester massacre, I met a person of the
name of George Goldworthy, to whom I had
been apprentice in Liverpool ; he expressed his
surprise at seeing me in London ; I told him I
was out of employment, and that there was
nothing worse than being a small master, as all
the rest of the trade, from jealousy, set their face
against me ; he said he had a little business of his
own in the country, and that he would employ
me if I would go. I agreed to go at SO*, a week.
He then appointed me to meet him at a house he
called the Horse and Groom, in John-street,
Edgware-road, on the Wednesday following. All
this time I did not know that Goldworthy was an
acquaintance of Edwards's, but he was.

On Wednesday evening accordingly I went to
the Horse and Groom. I looked into the house,
but did not see Goldworthy. I stopped at the
corner to wait for him, my lord, which your
lordship and gentlemen must well know I being
a conspicuous character would not have done, if 1
was about any thing improper. I saw Adams
there ; but I wxnt on to walk a littl'e further.
On my return I saw several persons going in and
out of the house, but still Goldworthy did not
come. A little after eight o'clock, while I was
in the Edgeware-road, up came Goldworthy.
He asked me if 1 was not surprised he had not

TRIAL OV TIDU AND DAVIDSOy. 321

come. I said I was. lie then said he was goii\g
to call upon a friend, and gave me a sword,
which he said he carried for self-protection against
thieves about the country.

" At this time I had not the least intention of
any thing directly or indirectly concerning the
business in Cato-street. I went down the street
accidentally, and hearing two or three pistols
fired, 1 went to see what was the matter. I
never was afraid of any man. I .then heard a
cry of ** Stop thief!" and I \vas seized and
taken to gaol. I never drew the cutlass nor
offered to strike ; but gave myself up quietly.

** I have ventured my life fifteen times for my
country and my King, and ask you, gentlemen,
if you think it possible that 1 should be so vain
as to attempt to join a few weak men to trample
down that well-founded constitution, in which
this country has so much reason to glory ? I
would scorn such an act — and I solemnly protest
there was nothing found on me but the sword
which I received from Goldworthy, and a little
block.

" It was said, that I said ' I would die for
liberty's cause,' and that 1 was searched in a
public house ; this is not true ; and if the landlord
was here he would prove the contrary. I know
nothing at all of the plot in Cato-street, directly
or indirectly. I know nothing of a plot to plunder
— to burn houses — or to massacre the Ministers.
I did not know that any such plot was in ex-
istence.

" I will now, my I^rds and Gentlemen, give
you an instance where one man of colour may be
mistaken for another — as must have been my
case. M henever I had any leisure time I em-
ployed it as a teacher in a Sunday-school : there
a similar mistake was made. A person, a man
of colour, insulted one of the female teachers at
Walworth. The young lady said it was me, and

2 r

322 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

I found I was slig4ited, although nothing was
said. I sent in my resignation, when the gentle-
men waited upon me in a body, and stated what
had been alleged to my charge. I was so con-
founded, that I could not say any thing, and let
them go away without making any defence. I
afterwards, however, set myself to work, and
actually found the man who had committed the
offence, made him acknowledge it, and beg the
young lady's pardon. The young lady could not
look me in the face, knowing how she had injured
me, but held out her hand as a token of her
regret.

Now, my lord and gentlemen, this shows how
one man may be mistaken for another. I would
as lieve be put to death as suppose that you, my
lord, or the gentlemen of the crown, should think
me capable, for one moment, of harbouring a
thought to massacre any person whatever. (Here
the prisoner applied for a glass of water, which
was handed to him.) Although I am a man of
colour, that is no reason that I should be guilty
of such a crir'*e. My colour may be against me,
but I have as good and as fair a heart as if I were
a white.

" I have a very few \vords more to say. I have
a very numerous family, and a wife that never
earned me a penny in her life. All my distress
arose from the consideration of the helpless situa-
tion of my family. Were it not for that, I would
not care what became of me. Like Isaiah it may be
said of me, ' He was persecuted, yet he opened
not his mouth.' As a father, I wish to discharge
ray dut}'', — for them 1 wish to live — and for their
sakes I wisii^ if })03sible, to clear up the black
charge which has been brought against me.

" First of all, Mr. Adams positively swore that
he had not seen me in tlie loft, and that I was
down slniis, and then comes Mr. Monument,
who snid that J addressed the congregation, and

TIvIAI. OF TIDD AND DAVIDSON. 323

told tliose that were afraid of tlieir lives to walk
out. They must see that this was an exaggera-
tion, and in fact altoo'ether an invention, or would
not both of these men who were present at the
same time have agreed in the same story ? I
admit that 1 w^as in Cato-street ; but even ad-
mitting this, what does it amount to ?

" I now very well know that Mr. Goldworthy
was an accomplice of Edwards, and it is clear
that by these persons, for purposes best known to
themselves, I was entrapped into this snare. As
for myself, my Lord, I have served my country,
and done all that I could do for it. 1 have su])-
ported my family by honest industry, and I never
directly or indirectly associated with any persons
at public places. I never attended any meeting
but as a common spectator.

I know nothing of these men (Tidd and the
other prisoners). I have no knowledge of their
plots ; I do not blame the gentlemen of the crown
for the manner in which they have conducted this
case ; because they have done no more than their
duty, according to the evidence which has been
brouglit before them; but I say, the witnesses, as
far as regards me, are altogether false sworn. I
liave selected a few passages from the Bible,
which I wish to read on this subject, and these I
otTer, not for the purpose of insulting the court.
The indictment charges that I did certain things
' not having the fear ot God before my eyes, but
h.aving been instigated by the devil.' Now, I
always had the fear of God before me, and always
cherished the feelings of virtue and humanity. I
always subscril^ed to the beautitul lines of Mr.
Po])e : —

" li I am rji;!it, tliv p;i;H c impart,
Still ill the iiu.fit to >'.ay ;
It' 1 am wroujr, clil ti;i<.Ii mv heart,
To {iud tiiat lirncr wav.
■2 T li

324 CATO-STREET COXSPIUACr.

Teach me to feel another's woe ;

To hide the fault I see :
The mercy I to others show,

That mercy show to me."

" The verses from this sacred Book, which I
think applicable to my case on the present occa-
sion, are these : —

* One witness shall not rise up against a man for any ini-
quity, for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth : at the mouth of
two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall
the matter be established. ^

* If a false witness rise up against any man, to testify
against him that which is wrong ;

*■ Then both the men, between whom the controversy is,
shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges
M'hich shall be in those days.

* And the judges shall make diligent inquisition : and be-^
hold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified
falsely against his brother ;

^ Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have
done unto his brother ; so shalt thou put the evil away from
among you.

* And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall
henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.

* And thine eye shall not pity ; but life shall go for life,
pye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

■* These words, gentlemen of the Jury, I wish
to impress on your minds.

" I am a stranger to England by birth; but I
was educated and brought up in England ; my
father was an Englishman, my grandfather was a
Scotchman ; I may too claim the prerogative of
an Englishman, from having been in the country
from my infancy, — still I have not a friend in Eng-
land,— I have not a relative who will stretch out
his hand to my helpless family. Then will you
not think it hard to have my life taken away for a
scene of intended iniquity, of which I know no-
thing. To have me torn from the bosom of her

lu c-^js.-^ix) ir:ix)X)

/.'//,/,.//,/'//.//,//,■,/ /',Tlu.:K<4iv,y -/!//,7y„..,r,y A.ui. .l/,u .'A^

TIUAL Oi? HDD AND DAVIDSON. 325

whom I lived but to cherish, — to have me ex-
posed to the ruthless knife of the executioner,
while my innocent starving babes seek in vain
for consolation.

** Gentlemen, when I think of this, it unmans
me, I am no plotter — no assassin — no traitor !
Look well to the evidence, and to your own
hearts, before you pronounce the fatal verdict of
' Guilty/

** Gentlemen, the Earl of Harrowby I hare
known for years; I worked on his Lordship's
estate in Staffordshire. Gentlemen, I knew him
but to respect him; — and yet it is suggested that
I could raise the dagger of the rnurderer to his
breast. — Forbid it providence ! Had I known
that this plot existed, I would have been the first
to warn his Lordship of his danger ; but I declare
solemnly that I knew not of such an intention. I
knew nothing of all these dark and bloody pro-
jects.

*' Gentlemen, I have now done. I repeat, I
will readily submit to death if you think me ca-
pable of harbouring an intention to commit the
crime of high treason. If that is your persuasion,
pronounce your verdict accordingly. I hope my
death may prove useful to my country, — for still
England I call thee so, — ^^and I trust that those by
whom I shall be condemned, may lay down their
lives with as clear a conscience."

Baron Gar row, then addressed Tidd as
follows : — *' Richard Tidd, do you wish to add
any thing to what your counsel has stated for
you ? If you do, this is the proper time."

Tidd rose, and said, in a meek and humble
voice, " The first thing I have got to say is, that
I had the misfortune to get acquainted with
Brunt about a month before Christmas, by his
frequently going to see Adams, who was living
next door to me ; our windows joined ; by that
means I became acquainted with him.

" During the Christmas holidays, wc kept

326 CATO-STIIEET CONSPIllACV.

them together ; after the holidays, I was in-
troduced to Edwards, who does not now appear
against me ; he was constantly coming to me
afterwards ; I always was a hard-working man,
working sixteen and eighteen hours a day. I
never had any time to spare, except on a Sunday.
Messrs. Edwards and Brunt together told me
that there were certain meetings going on.

" I never attended any meeting after the acts
to prevent illegal meetings, till Edwards told me
that he had authority to state from persons high
in rank, that meetings might take place to
procure reform in Parliament. I was then in-
troduced to a room, where I was taken to^ in
Brunt's house. I did not see there any thing
particular, till the Sunday when I was proposed
to take the chair.

*V Certain propositions were then made, which
made me declare I would never more attend such
meetings, and I fully determined that I would
not keep company with them afterwards. Prior
to this Edwards came up to my house, and said,
that he had got certain materials, and Mr.
Thistlewood would be obliged to me if I would
let them remain in my house. I said, I would
allow no such thing. He then went away, but
in the evening he came and brought the things,
which the officers afterwards seized.

*' On Tuesday, Edwards and Brunt came to
me, and asked me if I kept to my determination
— they added, that all the proceedings that were
going on were entirely flustered ; they then said
there was to be a meeting of the Mary-le-bone
Union, and asked me to go.

*' Edwards said, every body going there for
self-y)reservation took a weapon of defence. 1
told him I had none ; he said, if I had not, the
club would supply me with one ; he then pulled
out a pistol, and said, you ought to arm yourself
now.

TRIAL OV TIDD AXU DAVIDSON'. 327

" lie also had a sword-stick, which he offered
me. He afterwards gave me a direction where
the meeting; was to be held. I have it now in my
pocket. — [Here tlie prisoner produced a small
piece of paper, on which was written these
words: — ' Horse and Groom, John-street, Edge-
ware-road."]

Tidd then went on. " During Wednesday,
while I w^as at work, Edwards and Brunt came to
me, and said there was some ])eople 1 must bring
to the club. I afterwards took jMonument, but I
do declare before you I never knew any thing
about a cabinet-dinner. It was never mentioned
to me. I w^as introduced into the stable, and in
ten minutes after the otiicers came in and ap-
prehended me.

" This is all I have to say, and you may de-
pend I have tuld the truth."

The Alt Qvnei/ -General rose to reply, and pro-
ceeded to point out the various instances in
which the evidence of Adams had been con-
firmed : it was confirmed by Monument, who
held not been dee{)ly concerned in the plot ; but
it was much more strongly confirmed by Ilyden,
wlio was no accomplice, and who was in every
way worthy of belief Tliere was, he contended,
a com]>leat chain of evidence, to prove that there
was a conspiracy to overturn the government:
and if tliey l)elicved that the two prisoners at the
bar took a jirominent part in it, they could
have no hc^-itution as to the verdict they should
give.

3.1r. Baron Gcirrow, proceeded to deliver his
cliargc to the Jurv. He went over the whole of
the evidenre, and comniented on all the material
j;arts of it i;i a most })orspicuous manner. Mliilo
his lordship was reading over the evidence of
Monument, the prisoner Davidson caused a
written ])aper to be cfmveyed to him, ainl sp.id 1'

328 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

hoped it might be read as a part of his defence,
which he had before forgot to notice. The
learned Judge observed, that although it was not
strictly regular to comply with the prisoner's
request in the present stage of the business, yet
he was ready to allow him to make any state-
ment which might be of use to him. The state-
ment was, that his (Davidson's') house had been
searched, and nearly pulled down, and not the
slightest evidence was there found which went
to show that he had been guilty of any con-
spiracy.

After his Lordship had read over the evidence
of Hyden, he said it was the most important of any
that had been given to the Court, because the
conspiracy had been communicated to him by one
of the parties, who invited him to assist in it ; and
because he went immediately and communicated
to Lord Ilarrowby the danger which ministers
were in. He pretended to show a readiness to
join the conspirators, but he never did join them ;
and one reason for not refusing to take a part in
the plot was, a threat held out that any man who
did not join would be put to death.

" The learned counsel for the prisoners had
endeavoured to throw some discredit on this wit-
ness, on the ground of his being an accomplice ;
but there was not the slightest ground for such a
supposition ; nor did it appear to him that the
slightest inroad had been made on his testimony.
On the contrary, he ought to be considered as an
instrument in the hands of Providence in saving
fifteen of the first men in the country, and perhaps
many others, from destruction ; and all persons
then present in Court, ought to consider them-
selves indebted to him.

" Here it was clearly in evidence, that the in-
tention of the conspirators was to murder the
most respectable and virtuous characters in the
kingdom ; and that not content with that, they

lUIAI. OF TIlJJ) AND I ) A V I D?( * X . .'529

were to destroy the iiouse of the Bisho]) of Lon-
don, one of the most amiable men m tlic kingdom,
who of all other men in the ^^■()rhl was the least
lii<ely to ^ive olTenee to any 'l)ouy.

" What then eonkl be their motive for all these
unprovoked atroeities, but the ulterior objeet of
revolution? If plunder was their objeel, where
were the implements in whieh they were to earry
away their plunder? What neeessity was there
to add murder to their oflcnee ? ^Vilat occasion
had they for a box full of ball cartridges? ^\\vdt
was their objeet in all this, but the ulterior objeet
of etfectjno- a revolution ? The usual argument of
inadequacy of means had been used on this occa-
sion ; and it was said, nothing certainly could be
more j)re})osterous than to sup]jose a revolution
could be eHeeted by such contemptible means;
but it was proved, that a plan had been formed —
that a band of ruffians, reeking with the blood of
the most illustrious nien in the kingdom, had in-
tended to overturn tlie government, by stirring up
the people to insurrection.

" Such men as these might imagine that the
object could be eticctual, without ever considering
the adequacy of the means. Before the com-
mencement of the I'rench Revolution, the fii'st be-
ginnings were as contemptible as this ; and every
body knew the vast extent and the wide-spread-
ing desolation, by which these small beginnings
were lol lowed."

After a variety of other observations, all tend-
ing to show that the evidence of the acccnrqdices
was conhrmed in various m^lances by cretlible
witnes>(,'s, j)ar!.icular]y by .)ose[)h Hale, the ap-
ju-entiee ol'Briuit ; and bv Hvden, the cow-keeper,
who was \io ) arty in tlic plot, and who acted ho-
nesily and c ii.-c;eni!ou>lv, his Lurd>hi[) con-
cluded his charge.

The Jur\ then, retired, and after an ab>cnce
of fortv niiiiuies. returned with a AcrdicL of

.'r-lO CA'lO-^TRF.F.'l f.OX.SPIHACr.

*' GUILTY UPON THE THIRD COUNT,'' with
the exception of the eighth and tenth overt-acts.
The count in question alleged a conspiracy to levy
war.

At the conclusion of the trial of Tidd and
Davidson,

Mr. CuRwooD addressed the Court, intimating
n desire, on the part of James Wilson, to withdraw
his plea of misnomer to the indictment against
him for high treason, and to plead " Guilty," and
the Attorney-General stating that he had no ob-
jection to this course,

James Wilson was put to the bar, and, on being
questioned by Mr. Shelton, pleaded Guilty.

Mr. Walford then said, he was instructed to
make a similar tender on the part of the five re-
maining prisoners, and

Mr. Baron Garrow directed the prisoners to
be brought to the bar.

.John Harrison, Richard Bradburn, John Shaw
Strange, James Gilchrist, and Charles Cooper,
were then broui^ht into the Court, and

Mr. Walford again addressed his lordship, and
said that he had v/atched, with great diligence,
the whole of these proceedings, and from what
had passed under his observation, he thought he
should best consult the interests of the five un-
happy men at the bar, for whom, will!, his learned
friend (Mr. Broderick), he was counsel, by re-
commending them to ackuov/ledge the deepness
of their offendinc;- and to throw themselves on the
leniency of their Sovereign, who, he was per-
suaded, would foUov/ the steps of his revered
father, by tempering justice with mercy.

Mr Broderick said, he too had watched with
the most anxious solicitude the progress of the
trials which had taken place upon this indict-
ment, and l.e felt satisfied tliat he conld not

SFXTENCF. OF DhAiH. 331

better consult the interests of the prisoners, than
by adopting the course sugi^cstcd by his learned
friend. Tliese unfortunate men were desirous (.1
making tlie only rc[)aration in their ]:)0\ver U the
ot!'ended laws of tlieir country, by acknow k(i;:i:ig
their guilt. They did not ask for mercy, but ihcy
entertained a hope that their contrition would
have the desired effect, and would induce an ex-
tension towards them of that brightest attribute
in the person of the Sovereign."

jMr. Barov Garrov/ then explained to th.e pri-
soners the situation in which they stO(jd, and that
their plea must be received without any pledge en
his part, and with a lull understanding tliat they
were to receive judgment tu die.

They all expressed their concurrence in Vvdiat
had been said by their counsel, and, having Vvitli-
drawn their previous plea of Not Giddi/, they
pleaded Gu'dti/, and were removed from the bar;
and the gentlemen of the Jury were disniisied
with the thanks of their country.

SENTENCE OF DEATH.

The following morning, Friday April 2Slh, at a
quarter after nine, Lord Chief-Justice Abbot,
Chief Justice Dallas, the Chief Baron, r\lr. Jus-
tice Richards, Mr. Justice Best, and the Common
Sergeant, took their seats.

Mr. Brown, the gaoler, was immediately re-
quested to bring the prisoners to the bar. In a
few minutes the clank of chains was heard, and
the eleven prisoner.s entered the court. Tliey
were all double ironed, with the exception ot
Ings, who had been much indisposed since his
conviction. Thistlewood came first, and ad-
vanced to the bar. There was a melancholy re-
signation in his countenance, and his appearance

2 u 2

3'<v2 CA lo-sTJiEirr conspiracy.

was coiisulcrably altered since the last time of his
being in Court.

All being- in readiness,

Mr. Shelton (the clerk of the arraigns), address-
ing himself to Thistlewood, said,

" Arthur Thistlewood, you stand convicted of
High Treason ; — what have you say why you
should not receive judgment to die, according to
law ?"

Thistlewood immediately drew forth a manu-
script address, which he proceeded to read in a
mournful tone, as follows : —

" My Lords, — I am asked, my Lord, what I
have to say that judgment of death should not be
passed upon me according to law. This to me
is mockery— for were the reasons 1 could offer in-
controvertible, and were they enforced even by
the eloquence of a Cicero, still would the ven-
geance of my Lords Castlereagh and Sidmouth be
satiated only in the purple stream which circu-
lates through a heart more enthusiastically vibrat-
ing to every impulse of patriotism and honour,
than that of any of those privileged traitors to
their country, who lord it over the lives and pro-
perty of the sovereign people with barefaced im-
punity.

" Ihe reasons which I have, however, I will now
siate — not that I entertain the slightest hope from
your sense of Justice or from your pity. The
lormer is swallowed up in your ambition, or ra-
ther by the servility you descend to, to obtain the
object of that ambition — the latter I despise.
Justice I demand. If I am denied it, your pity is
no equivalent. In the first place,

'* I protest against the proceedings upon my
trial, which I conceive to be grossly partial, and
coutrary to the very spirit of justice, — but, alas !
the judges, who have heretofore been considered
tlie counsel of the accused, are now, without ex-
ception, m all cases between the Crown and

tiiisti.lwood'.s speech. 333

the People, the most inipkicable enemies of the
latter. In every instanee, the Judges charge tlie
Jury to find the subject gnilty ; nay, in one in-
stance, the .Tury received a rei)riniand, and that
not in the gentlest terms, lor nnt strictly obey-
ing tiie i;;ipc.Ti<.-iis nrandute iVom the bench.

'' The Cinirt decided np(Mi my trial to commit
murder ratjier than depart, in the slightest degree,
from its nsual forms. Nay, it ^s wiih me a cpies-
tion, if thcMbrm is usual wliich prccUuled me
from examining witnesses to prove the infaniy of
Adams, of Uyden, and oi" Dwver. 'I'Ivq the Soli-
citor-General replied to the address of my Coun-
sel, I applied to the Court to hear my witnesses.
The Court inhumanly reliised, and 1 am in con-
se(pience to be consigned to the scatibld.

" Numerous have been the instances in wdiich
this rule of Court has been infringed ; but to
have inlVinged it in my case, would have been to
incur the displeasure of the Court, and to tbrfeit
every aspiring ho])e of pron^iotion.

^' A few hours hence and I shall be no more ;
but the nightly bree/c which will whistle over the
silent grave that shall protect me from its keen-
ness, will bear to y(;ur restless pillow the memory
of one who lived but lor his country, — and died
when liberty and justice had been driven from
its confines l)y a set of villains, whose thirst for
])lood is only to be equalled by their activity in
plunder.

" For life, as it respects myself, T care not :
but, while yet I niay, I would rescue my memory
from the calumny v.hich, I doubt not, will be
industriously hea])ed upon it, when it will be no
longer in my power to protect it.

" I would explain the motives which induced
me to conspire against the Ministers of his Ma-
jesty ; and I would contrast them with those
which these very ministers have acted upon
in leading me to mv ruin. To do this, it will be

334 CATO STREET CONSPIRACY.

necessaTy to take a short review of my life, for a
few months prior to my arrest for the offence for
which 1 am to be executed without a trial, or, at
least, without an impartial one by a jury of my
peers.

" 'Tis true, the form, the etiquette of a trial
has been gone through ; but I challenge any of
the Judges on the bench to tell me — to tell my
country — that justice was not denied me in the
very place where justice only should have been
administered. I challenge them to say that I
was fairly tried. I challenge them to say if 1 am
not murdered according to the etiquette of a
Court (falsely denominated) of Justice.

" 1 had witnesses in Court to y)rove that Dvvyer
was a villain, beyond all example of atrocity. — I
had witnesses in Court to prove that Adams was
a notorious swindler, and that Hyden was no
better. — These were the three witnesses — indeed,
almost the only ones — against me.— But the form
and rules of Court must not be infringed upon, to
save an unfortunate individual from the scaffold.

" I called those witnesses at the close of Mr.
Adolphus's address to the Jury, and before the
Solicitor-General commenced his reply; but the
Court decided that they could not be heard.

" Some good men have thought — and I have
thought so too — that before the Jury retired, all
evidence was in time, ft:)r either the prosecutor or
the accused ; and more particularly for the latter ;
nay, even before the verdict was given, that evi-
dence could not be considered too late. Alas !
such people drew their conclusion from princi-
])les of justice only; they never canvassed the
rules of Court, Vvdiich have finally settled my
unhaj^py doom !

*' Many people who are acquainted with the
barefaced manner in which I was plundered by
my Lord Sidmouth, will, perha])s, imagine that
persoTinl motives insti:ia,<<^rl me to the deed ; bnt

7 HIS I i.ewood's sphech. 335

I disclaim ihcin, .My every principle was for the

prosperity of iiiy country. Aly every feeling —
tlie height of my ambition — was tlie wellhre of
my starving countrymen. I keenly felt for their
miseries; but, when their miseries were laughed
at, and when, because they dared to express those
miseries, they were cut down by hundreds, bar-
barously massacred, and trampled to death; when
inhmts were sabred in their mother's arms, and
the breast, from which they drew the tide of life,
was severed trom the parent's body, my feelings
became too intense, too excessive for endurance,
and I resolved on vcuiieance — I resolved that the
lives of the instigators should be a requ.iem to
the souls of the murdered innocents.

" l'\ this mood I met with (ieorgc Edwards.
And if any doubt should remain unon the nvinds
(■1 the jHiblic, whether the deed I meditated v,as
virluous, or contrary, the talc 1 will now relate
Will convince them that, in attemjitiiig to exercise
a power which the law had ceased to have, 1 was
(■;nly wreaking national vengeance on a set of
v.fetches unworihy the name or cliaracter of
r.K.'n.

" This Edwards, poor and pennyless, lived
near Picket-street, in the Strand, some time ago,
without a bed to lie upon, or a cliair to sit in.
Straw was his bed — his only covering a blanket ;
bu^ owing to his bad character, and his swindling
conduct, he was driven even from tlienee by his
landlord.

" It is not my intention trace him through his
immorality. Suffice it to say that he was, in every
sense of the word, a villain of the deenest atro-
city. His landlord refused to give him a cha-
racter.

" Some short time after this he calk;d upon liis
landlord auTiin — but mark the ciiange in his ap-
5ieafane(,\ Dressed like a k)rd, in all the f^Hy of
'he reii.-ninu' fasldon, ho now describe<l hi.e.self

3.3G cato-stuet;t coxspiracv.

as the right heir to a German Baron, who had
been some time dead, and stated that Lords
Castlereagh and Sidmouth had acknowledged his
claims to the title and property, had interfered in
his behalf with the German government, and
supplied him with money to support his rank in
society. From this period I date his career as a
Government Spy.

*' He procured an introduction to the Spenceans
— by what means I am not aware of — and thus he
became acquainted with the Reformers in ge-
neral.

" When I met with Edwards after the massacre
at Manchester, he described himself as very poor;
and, after several interviews, he proposed a plan
for blowing up the House of Commons. This
was not my view : I wished to punish the guilty
only, and therefore I declined it. He next pro-
posed that we should attack the Ministers at the
fete, given by the Spanish Ambassador. This I
resolutely opposed, because the innocent would
perish with the guilty ; — besides, there were
ladies invited to the entertainment — and I, who
am shortly to ascend to the scaffold, shuddered
with horror at the idea of that, a sample of which
had previously been given by the Agents of Go-
vernment at Manchester, and which the Ministers
of his Majesty applauded.

" Edwards was ever at invention ; and at
length he proposed attacking tlicm at a cabinet-
dinner. I asked, where were the means to carry
his project into effect? He replied, if I would
accede, we should not want for means. He was
as good as his word : from him came, notwith-
standing his apparent penury, the money provided
for purchasing the stores which your Lordships
have seen produced in Court upon my trial.

" He wlio v/as never possessed of money to pay
for a pint of beer, had always plenty to purchase
arms or ammunition. Amongst tlie conspirat.

THISTl.KWOOl/.S SPKr.CH. 337

he was ever the most active ; — ever inducing
people to join him, up to the last hour ere the
undertaking was discovered.

" I had witnesses in (Jouvt who could prove
they went to Cato-street by appointment with
Edwards, with no other knowledge or motive than
that of passing an evening amongst his friends.

" I could also have proved that subsequent to
the fatal transaction, when we met in Holborn,
he endeavoured to induce two or three of my
companions to set fire to houses and buildings in
various parts of the metropolis.

" I could prove that subsequent to that again,
he endeavoured to induce men to throw hand-
grenades into the carriages of ministers as they
passed through the streets ; and yet tliis man, the
contriver, the instigator, the entrapper, is screened
from justice and from exposure, by those very
men who seek vengeance agamst the victims of
his and their villany.

" To the Attorney and Solicitor-General I
cannot impute the clearest motives. Their object
seems to me to have been rather to obtain a
verdict against me, than to obtain a full and fair
exposition of the whole affair since its com-
mencement. If their object v.as justice alone,
why not bring forward Edwards as a witness, if
not as an accomplice ; but no, they knew that
by keeping Edwards in the background, my proofs
— aye, my incontrovertible prools of his being a
hired spy, the suggestor and promoter — must,
according to the rules of court, also be excluded.
" Edwards and his accomplices arranged matters
in such a manner as that his services might be
dispensed with on the trial, and thus were the
Jury cut off from every chance of ascertaining the
real truth. Adams, Ilyden, and Dwyer, were the
agents of Edwards, and truly he made a most
admirable choice, for their invention seems to be
inexhaustiblo.

•J X

;J38 CATO-ST?tEET CONSPIRACY,

" \yit!i respect to the immoraiity of our project,
I will just observe, that the assassination of a
tyrant has always been deemed a meritorious
action. Brutus and Cassius were lauded to the
very skies for slaying Caesar ; indeed, when any
man, or any set of men, place themselves above the
laws of their country, there is no other means of
bringing them to justice than through the arm of
a private individual. If the laws are not strong
enough to prevent them from murdering the com-
munity, it becomes the duty of every member
of that community to rid his country of its op-
pressors.

" High treason was committed against the
people at Manchester, but justice was closed
against the mutilated, the maimed, and the friends
of those who were upon that occasion indiscrimi-
nately massacred. The Sovereign, by the advice
of his Ministers, thanked the murderers, while yet
reeking in the blood of their hapless victims I If
one spark of honour — if one spark of patriotism —
had still glimmered in the breasts of Englishmen,
they would have risen to a man — for Insurrection
then became a public duty — and the Blood of the
Slain should have been the watchword to ven-
geance on their murderers. The banner of inde-
pendence should have floated in the gale that
brought the tidings of their wrongs and their suf-
ferings to the metropolis I — Such, however, was
not the case, and Albion is still in the chains of
slavery — I quit it without regret — I shall soon be
consigned to the grave — my body will be immured
beneath the soil whereon I first drew breath. My
only sorrow is, that the soil should be a theatre
for slaves, for cowards, for despots.

" My motives, I doubt not, will hereafter be
justly appreciated. I will therefore now conclude
by stating, that I shall consider myself as mur-
dered, if I am to be executed on the verdict
obtained against me, by the refusal of the court to
hear mv evidence.

vyiiiLiiiAM jjjs:yi:dsdt

l.,.i„l.,„ /'///.//..//<•,/ Ar Til..' K.'U v. -/;;/,■///-..,/<■, //,.„; .'/,/

rHisi icwoon's srr.i'cu. 339

" 1 could have proved Dwyer to be a villain of
the blackest dye, for, since my trial, an accom-
plice of his, named Arnold, has been capitally
convicted at this very bar, for obtaining money
under circumstances of an infamous nature.

*' I seek not pity — I demand but justice : — I
have not had a fair trial, and, upon that ground, I
protest that judgment ought not to be passed
against me.''

It is impossible to describe the feelings of
horror and disgust which pervaded the mind of
every individual in the court during the delivery
of this most treasonable and ferocious harangue.—
It was of course expected that the wretched cri-
minals would offer something in extenuation of
the crimes of which they had been convicted, but
it could never have been conceived that any man
existed so deeply depraved, and so dreadfully
hardened in crime, as to venture to justify pro-
jects of assassination, and to propogate doctrines
of treason and murder, while standing as it were
on the very brink of eternity, and about to be
ushered into the presence of that God whoni he
had braved, by the impious and inhuman decla-
rations to which he had just given utterance.

Mr. Shelton next addressed himself to David-
son, and put to him the same question which lie
luid put to Thistlewood. Davidson advanced,
and spoke to the following eifect :

" iMy Lords, you ask me what I have to say
why I should not receive judgmeiU to die for what
has been said against me ? I answer tliat I protest
against the proceedings in this trial in toto.

" In the first place, I always thought that in a
CHirt of justice the balance of justice was held
with an even hand. But this has not been the
case with me ; 1 stand here helpless and friond-
Irss. I endeavoured to shew tliat the evidence

2 X ?

340 CATO STHEKT CONSPIRACY.

against me was contradictory and incredible, and
I hoped I had made an impression on the gentle-
men in the box ; but the moment I was done, the
Attorney-General got up, and told them that the
evidence was pure and uncontaminated, and to
this I may add, that Mr. Baron Garrow almost
insisted that they should pronounce me guilty.

" 1 would ask, has any person identified me
but the officers ? who, every one knows, have at
all times been instrumental in the deeith of inno-
cent persons.

"1 do not now plead for my life ; 1 know I
must fall a victim to the vengeance of my enemies.
But in what manner have I been guilty of High
Treason ? It would seem I was a silent spectator;
none of the witnesses impute to me a single obser-
vation. Now is this probable ? I had always got
a great deal to say for myself, consequently I was
not the person who would stand by without utter-
ing a word ; and yet such has been the testimony
of Adams.

" Then, with regard to the blunderbuss ; — I
have already explained that this was not mine,
and that 1 acted in that affair entirely as the agent
of Edwards. I have also declared how I came
by the sword, and I now declare vipon my soid,
which will shortly appear before its Maker, that I
never made any blow at any man, or discharged
any carbine.

*' As forMunday, the man who swore that I had
a long sword, with a pair of pistols in my girdle,
who is he ? He is a poor labouring man who comes
here for his day's pay and his victuals, to swear
away the life of a fellow creature, and to support
the unfounded charge against me that I meant to
assassinate his Majesty's Ministers.

" I appeal to any man, whether it is upon such
evidence the life of an innocent man is to be sacri-
ficed r But even supposing, for the sake of argu-

davii)S(jn"s ^,i'I:i:cH. 341

ment, that the lives of his Majesty's Ministers
were threatened, it did not follow that this was to
extend to the Kini^ himself.

" In a passage of Ahv^na Charta, it was ordained
that twenty-five barons sliould be nominated to
see that the terms of the charter were not in-
frinij^ed ; and, if it was found tliat his Majesty's
Ministers were t^uilty of such inlVinoement, then
four barons were to call upon them for redress.
If this were not granted, then the four l:)arons
were to return to tlieir brethren, by whom the
people were to be called together to take up arms,
and assert their rights. Such an act was not con-
sidered in old tmies as an act of treason towards
the king, however hostile it might be towards his
ministers. But this does not apply to me.

" I had no intention of joining in any scheme
whatever, either to put down my King, or to
murder his Ministers. I was entrapped by Gold-
w^orthy and Edwards, in order for some private
purposes of their own, that they might have my
life sworn away.

" I have no objection to tender my life in the
service of my country ; but let me at least, for the
sake of my children, save my character trom the
disgrace of dying a traitor. For my children only
do I feci, and when I think of them 1 am deprived
of utterance — 1 can say no more."

James 1 \Gs was next asked what he had to
say, why he should not receive judgment to die?
He replied —

" 1 have very little to say. My abilities will
not allow me to speak. If Mr. Edwards had not
got acquainted with me I should not l:)e here. He
came to me, unfortunately when I had no business,
nor no mearis of getting a livelihood for my
family. 1 entered into the conspiracy only through
him ; and it was only necessit}-, and the want of
the means to su])port my wife and family that
brouuht me here.

342 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

*' It is only through Edwards that I shall lose
my life. I do not mind dying, if you will let
that man come forward, and die with me on the
scaffold. It was through him that I was going
to do that which, I must allow, was of a most
disgraceful and inhuman nature.

" On the other hand, his Majesty's Ministers
conspire together, and impose laws to starve me
and my family and fellow-countrymen ; and if I
was going to assassinate these Ministers, I do
not see that it is so bad as starvation, in my opi-
nion, my Lord.

" There is another thing, my Lord. A meeting
was called at Manchester, under the protec-
tion of the law of England, for which our fore-
fathers died, and which King John signed in the
open air. This meeting was called under the
protection of that law, for the people to petition
parliament to give them their rights ; but, pre-
vious to the business of the meeting, the JNIan-
chester yeomanry rode in among them, and cut
down men, women, and children, in a manner
that was a disgrace to the very name of English-
men. These yeomen had their swords ground
beforehand ; and 1 had a sword ground also : but
1 do not see any harm in that.

*' I shall suffer, no doubt ; but I hope my
children will live to see justice done to their
bleeding country. I would rather die like a man
than live like a slave. I am sorry i have not the
power, gentlemen, to say more ; I shall, therefore,
withdraw."

John Thomas Brunt was next called upon.
He came ibrvvard in a quick and rather hurried
manner ; and, m answer to the usual interrogatory,
addressed himself to the Court in a firm and con-
fident tone.

lie said, he " had intended to have written the ob-
snviUions which he should make, but he had not
had tlic I c;y^<!t<)f ink aiul j>nper. He woiild roprat

BEL N'T '^ s1'1:E(H. 343

what he had before stated to the Jury on his
trial, wliich had been so ably knocked down by
the Solicitor-General, whose sophisticated elo-
quence would make even crime a virtue. He
then proceeded to recapitulate the circumstances
already stated by him in his defence. He pro-
tested aj^ainst the verdict ; not that he valued his
life. No man valued it less when it was to be
sacrificed in liberty's cause.

" Looking around him in this Court, and seeing
the sword of justice and the inscriptions which
were placed on the v\alls above the Learned
Judges, he could only say, that he felt his blood
boil in his veins when he thought how justice was
perverted, and her sacred name prostituted to the
basest and vilest purposes. He was a man of his
word, and not a shuttlecock, as some might sup-
pose. If he pledged himself once to destroy a
tyrant, he would do it.

" Edwards, that infamous villain, whom the
Solicitor-General had not dared to bring forward,
had preyed on his credulity; and Adams had
betrayed him. Where was the benefit which would
result to Christianity from the able defence made
of it by the Solicitor-General ? What was Chris-
tianity ? Why, did its doctrines promulgate so
horrid an idea, as that supposing a man to have
been a Deist, and all at once to have been con-
verted bv seeing' the halter starinc: him in the
face, he would, therefore, be strengthened by
Almighty God to become a villain and a perjured
betrayer of his associates?

" That this was the case with Adams was evi-
dent from his own confession. Was this, then,
Christianity ? If it was, he prayed God he might
die without it ; for very dirterent, indeed, were
the ideas he had formed of religion.""

The prisoner then proceeded to attack the
character of the witness, Hale, his apprentice ; in
which, however, he was interrupted by tho Lord

344 CATO-STRKF.T CONSl'l H AC V.

Chief Justice, who said, he would not allow per-
sons and witnesses not before the Court to be
vilified.

Brunt proceeded — " He had antipathy against
none but the enemies of his country. lie was a
friend to the lower orders, and, as an honest man,
had a fellow-feeling for his countrymen, who were
starving through the conduct of Ministers. Lord
Castlereagh and Lord Sidmouth had an antipathy
against the people ; and if he did conspire to
murder them, was that high treason ? He readily
acknowledged that he had agreed to assassinate
Ministers ; but he denied having ever conspired
to dethrone or injure the Monarch. But, if re-
sisting the Civil Power, or opposing wicked
Ministers, was treason, then he confessed he was
guilty. He was no traitor to his country — he was
no traitor to his King; but he was an enemy to a
boroughmongering faction, which equally enslaved
both the King and the people.

" The hap])iness, the glory, and the safety of
the King, depended on his being free as well as
his people; but this was not the case now. A
faction ruled both King and people with lawless
sway. He Jiad, by his industry, been able to
earn about three or four pounds a week ; and,
while this was the case, he never meddled with
politics : but, when he found his income reduced
to ten shillings a week, he began to look about
him, and to ask to what could that be owing?
And what did he find ? Why, men in power,
who met to deliberate how they might starve and
plunder the country. He looked on the Man-
chester transactions as most dreadlul, and thought
that nothing was too severe for men, who had not
only caused, but even applauded, the dreadful
scenes which occurred there.

" With pleasure would he die as a martyr in
liberty's cause for the good of his country, and, to
have been avenged on iier tyrants would have

brunt's SPEECIf. 345

given him pleasure to have died on the spot. He
was not a traitor, nor a friend of a traitor, and it
was only a villain who could call him so. While
a nerve of his body could move, that nerve should
and would be exerted against the enemies of
the people.

•' He had joined the conspiracy for the public
good. He was not the man who would have
stopped. O, no ; he would have gone through
with it to the very bottom, or else have perished
in the attempt. Their death was necessary for
the public good. They might quarter his body —
they might inflict on him every species of torture ;
but they could not shake his resolution, nor subdue
his spirit. He would mount the scaffold with
the same firm intrepidity he now evinced, and, if
his life was called for, if his wife was to be made
a widow and his child an orphan, in this mighty
cause he would cheerfully sacrifice it T'

In the course of this daring address, the
wretched man had worked himself up to a de-
gree of passion bordering on rage. A feeling
of horror was visible in the face of all within his
hearing, whilst the unhappy man was coldly ex-
plaining and justifying his murderous purposes.

The same question was put to each of the re-
maining prisoners, who severally returned
answers to tlie following effect :

Richard Tidd said, he had been convicted so
late last night, that he had no time to prepare
a written address, as he could have wished. He
denied that the evidence against him was true,
with the exception of that of the gentleman he
saw on the bench (Captain Fitzclarcncc) ; and,
as for shooting him, why he would as soon have
thoutj^ht of shootin": his own father.

James Wilson declared that lie had been
drawn into the plot by one of the witnesses
(Adams) who appeared against him,

2''y

34G CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

JoHX Harrison, on being called upon, said
My Lord, they were all false witnesses.

ilicHARD Bradburn. — Tlic evidencc of Adams
was false.

JoHX Shaw Strange. — I have only this much
to say, my Lords, that the evidence of Adams
and liale was false, and that they are perjured
villains.

James Gilchrist was much affected, and
some time elapsed before he could speak. He
said —

" My Lords, what I say, 1 shall say and think
as in the presence of my God. I knew nothing
of the business until four o'clock on the day on
which it took place. I then had not tasted a
morsel of food the whole day. [Here the
prisoner burst into tears.] I then went to a
place where a person appointed to meet me at
six o'clock, where I saw four or five men, not one
of whom I knew, except Cooper ; of him I bor-
rowed a halfpenny, to buy a bit of bread. I
appeal to God who now hears me, (casting up
his eyes), and knows that this is true.

" I went into the room at Cato-street, where
I found a number of men eating bread and cheese,
which they cut with a sword. I cut some for
myself. Seeing so many men and arms, I was
anxious to get away, but Adams stopped me, and
brandishing a sword, said, * If any man attempts
to go from here, I will run him through.' An
officer then came in, and 1 surrendered without
opposition.

" This was all I knew of the business, and yet
I stand here convicted of high treason, I have
served my King and country faithfully for twelve
years, and this is my recompense, this is my
recompense, O God !" [Here the prisoner again
burst into tears, and could proceed no further.]

Charles Cooper said. My Lords, there is no
evidence to convict me of high treason.

SENTENCE OF DEATH, 347

Gilchrist came again to the bar, and said,
My Lords, I have no objection to die ; I would
willingly resign my life to save that of another.
(It %vas not known to whom he alluded). He
again retired from the bar in tears as before,
and continued so till the whole of the prisoners
were removed from Court.

Proclamation was now made by the Crier that
the Judge was going to proceed to pass sentence
on the prisoners, and enjoining strict silence in
the Court.

The Lord Chief-Justice Abbott, having put
on that solemn part of the judicial insignia, the
black velvet cap, proceeded to his awful duty,
and thus addressed the prisoners : —

" You, Arthur Thistle wood, James Ings, John
Thomas Brunt, William Davidson, and Richard
Tidd, have been severally tried and convicted of
High Treason, in Compassing and Levying War
against his Majesty.

" You, James Wilson, John Harrison, Richard
Bradburn, John Shaw Strange, James Gilchrist,
and Charles Cooper, did originally plead Not
Guilt// to the same indictment; but, after the
trial and conviction of the preceding prisoners,
you desired to withdraw your plea, and plead
Guilt//. You have cast yourselves on the mercy
of your sovereign ; and if any of you have your
lives spared, which I trust will be the case wiih
some of you, I hope you will bear in mind tliat
you owe it to the benignity and mercy of your
sovereign, and to some of those public officers
whom you had devoted to a cruel and sudden
death.

His Lordship then proceeded with his address.
" Thistlewood," he observed, " had comphiincd
that the Court iiad refused to receive the testimony
of some witnesses, after the evidence had closed
on both Sides. But he should recollect that his

O y n

^ I ^

348 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

trial was conducted according to the law, as it
had been administered in this country for ages.
The witnesses whom he proposed to call were
for the purpose of impugning the testimony of a
man of the name of Dwyer, and no other. His
learned counsel had previously called witnesses
to the same effect. It could not be allowed to
him, according to the ordinary course of pro-
ceeding, to do more. Indeed, even if he had
been allowed so to do, it could have been pro-
ductive of no advantage, because his case did not
depend upon the evidence of that witness alone.
This observation was confirmed by the fact, that
in subsequent cases, where the evidence of
Dwyer was altogether omitted, a similar verdict
of guilty was returned.

" Some of them had thought fit to say much of
the character of a person who had not appeared
as a witness upon this occasion. The Court
could proceed only upon the evidence which was
brought before it. Of the person, therefore, to
whom they alluded, or of the practices of which
he had been guilty, they could have no know-
ledge. Upon the testimony, however, which had
been adduced against them, there was abund-
antly sufficient to induce a Jury of their coun-
try to come to a conclusion, that the whole of
them had taken an active part in the crimes im-
puted in the indictment.

*' From all that had appeared in the course of
these trials, as well as from much of that which
they had then heard, it was plain to see, that
they did not embark in their wicked designs
until they had first suffered their minds to be
corrupted and inflamed by those seditious and
irreligious publications, with which, unhappily
for tills country, the press had but too long
teemed. He did not make these remarks to ag-
gravate their guilt, or to enhance the sufferings
of persons in their situation. He made them as

judge's speech. 349

a warning to all who might hear of their unfor-
tunate fate, that they might benefit by their
example, and avoid those dangerous instruments
of sedition, by which their hearts and minds
were inflamed, and by which they were drawn
from every feeling of morality, from every sense
of obligation towards their Creator, and of jus
tice towards society.

*' The treason of which they were charged,
and found guilty, was that of compassing and
imagining to levy war against his majesty, for
the purpose of inducing him to change his mea-
sures and Ministers ; the first step towards ef-
fecting which was to have been the assassination
of Ministers themselves. They had endeavoured
now to complain of the testimony of those per-
sons who had been examined as witnesses on the
part of the prosecution. Some of them were ac-
complices in their guilt.

*' It had here happened, as it had upon other
occasions, that the principal instruments in the
hands of justice were ])artners iu their wicked-
ness : he trusted that circumstance would have
its due weight and consideration witli all those,
who became acquainted with their situation, and
with the circumstances of their trial. He hoped
that, for the sake of their own personal safety, if
they could not be restrained by any other con-
sideration, they would abstain from evil com-
munications and from evil connexions, such as
had brought the prisoners to the unhai)[)y i)osition
in which they stood.

*' Some of them had avowed tlicir intention to
have taken away the lives, and to have steeped
their hands in the blood of fourteen ])crsons, to
many of them unknown. It was without a pre-
cedent to see Englishmen laying aside their na-
tional character, and contriving and agreeing on
the assassination, in cold blood, of iourteen in-
dividuals, who had never otiended any of them.

350 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

This was a crime which hitherto was a stranger
to our country, and he trusted it would, after
the melancholy example of the prisoners, be
unknown amongst us.

*' It now," he said, '' only remained for him to
pass upon them the awful sentence of the law;
but before he did so, he exhorted them, he im-
plored them, to employ the time yet left to them
in this life in endeavouring, by prayer, to obtain
mercy from that Almighty Power before whom
they would shortly appear. The mercy of hea-
ven might be obtained by all those who would
imfeignedly, and with humility, express contrition
for their offences, and seek that mercy through
the merits of their blessed Redeemer.'^

This awful appeal, delivered by the judge in
the most impressive manner, was wholly lost on
Thistlewood, who, with apparent careless indif-
ference, pulled out his snuff-box, some of the
contents of which he took, casting his eyes round
the court, as if he were entering a theatre. His
indifference was the more conspicuous w^hen con-
trasted with the solemn manner in which the
Lord Chief-Justice addressed the prisoners.

His Lordship continued,

" Whether the prisoners Avould profit by the
advice which he thus sincerely gave them he
could not say, but he once again begged that
they might not allow themselves to be led away
by such feelings and opinions as seemed hitherto
to have influenced them.

" lie had now to pronounce upon them the
sentence of the law, which was —

" That you, and each of you, be taken from
hence to the gaol from Avhence you came, and
ironi thence that you be drawn upon a luirdle
to a place of execution, and be there hanged by
t!ie neck until you be dead ; and that afterwards
your heads shall be severed from your bodies,
and your bodies be divided into four quarters,

judge's speech. 35J

to be dispofjed of as his majesty shall think fit.
And may God of his infinite goodness have
mercy upon your souls !"'

The crier said aloud, " Amen!" in which he
was joined by many in the Court, who were
deeply alFected by his Lordship's address.

The prisoners were then removed from the
bar; some of them, particularly Thistlewood,
Brunt, and Davidson, appearing' to be wholly un-
concerned at the awful sentence which had been
passed upon them, and the whole of them evincing-
great firmness and resignation.

Tidd complained of the immense weight of
his irons, when the Lord Chief Justice, with that
humanity and feeling which had characterized
his conduct throughout the whole of this arduous
and painful business, said he was sure the gaoler
would grant the prisoner every indulgence con-
sistent with his safety.

352 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION,

AND

CONDUCT OF THE PRISONERS.

The public anxiety had been, as we have
already stated, more than usually excited during
the trials of the conspirators, and much curiosity
was, of course, felt as what would be the final
result, and on what particular day the unhappy,
deluded wretches, would suffer the last dreadful
sentence of the law. The public suspense M^as,
however, terminated on Saturday, the day after
the passing sentence of death, when his Majesty
held a Privy Council, at which Newman Knowles,
Esq., the Common-Serjeant of London, (in the
absence of the Recorder through indisposition,)
was admitted into the presence of the King, to
make a Report of the persons convicted of the
crime of High Treason before the Special Com-
missioners, in which the Learned Serjeant was
assisted by the Judges present, who tried the
prisoners. The Council, at which his Majesty was
present, assembled at two o'clock, and continued in
deliberation till near four ; and, after the Report
had been received, the Council proceeded to
deliberate upon the fate of the prisoners, and
upon the period when it might be proper the
execution should take place.

It was at length determined, with a view to
render the example more imposing, and to mark
the sense which was entertained of the atrocious
offence of which tlie wretched culprits were found
guilty, to order them for execution on the fol-
lowing Monday ; and that Thistlewood, Brunt,

COXDUCT OF THE PRISOXERS. 353

Inos, Davidsox, and Tidd, sliould be the suf-
ferers. But that part of the sentence which
directed that their bodies should be quartered
was remitted.

The sentence of death on Harrisox, Wilson,
Cooper, Straxge, and Bradburx, was com-
muted to transportation for life, in conformity
with the implied pledge which they received when
they agreed to plead Giiilti/ to the indictments ;
and Gilchrist was respited, without mention of
the commutation of punishment

Mr. Brown, the Governor of Newgate, received
the warrant at seven o'clock in the eveninof, and,
accompanied by the Under-Sheriff, immediate!}'-
went to tlic condemned room, in which were
sitting tho.-c who were ordeied ior execution,
attended by cii^ht ctiicers.

When he entered, ihey rose in the most re-
spectful maiji.cr. 1^.q held in his hand the Re-
corder's warrant, of the contents of wliich thej^
appeared co]iseio.;s. A dead bilence prevaiJcd ;
but there v,-;is noi tlic sli;:^hlcf>t DL::ilation observ-
able m the c ."iitcnancey ur manner of any one of
the prisonci^.

Mr. Brown r.ddrcr^scd them in the Ibllowing
words: — ■' i; i-; my paini'ui duty to co]'inimdcate
to you, that 1 hoJd liie Uccurder's warrant for the
execution of you, Thistlewood, Ings, Brunt, Da-
vidson, and Tidd, on Monday morning. I hope
and trust that the short time you have to remain
in this world will be employed by you in making-
preparation for that to which you are going."

Thistlewood immediately, and in the calmest
manner, said — "The sooner we go. Sir, the better.
Our wish is to die ns soon as p<;ssiblc.' The
others expre-iscd tlic saine scntbi! 'r.r-.

Mr. Lrovar — '• If any of vr.^i wdh to liave the
assistance of a clci-iyir,a'i ';t' or.y pcrsuas:->::i,
during your preparation, let mc know it, and 1

2 z

354 CATO-STRF.ET CONSPIRACY.

shall apply to the authority by which I am con-
vinced you will not be refused."

Not B. word was uttered by any one of the
prisoners.

Mr. Brown then said, " Let me entreat ^ou
with effect to give up your thoughts to the ;on-
templation of the change which you are about to
undergo. Your time in this hfe is very short ;
devote it to repentance, and prayer to that Being
who will not desert you at the moment of fatal
separation."

The prisoners did not speak, nor make any
sign.

Mr. Brown then left the room, and the miser-
able men turned to the conversation in which they
had been engaged before he entered, without
any reference to the tidings they had just heard.

Upon going to the condemned room where the
six conspirators who pleaded guilty were confined,
Mr. Brown observed a very striking contrast to
the scene which he had just quitted, as far as
regarded Strange, Bradburn, Cooper, and Gil-
christ.

He entered with the Recorder's warrant in his
hand, which contained cheering intelligence to
them. Strange, Bradburn, Cooper, and Gilchrist,
seemed struck with consternation ; but Harrison
and Wilson shewed no symptoms of agitation, but
appeared rather to despise than to pity the
deplorable condition of their companions, and
uttered not a word expressive of hope or fear.

Mr. Brown then informed them, that mercy had
been extended to them, and that their lives were
spared.

Srange, Cooper, Bradburn, and Gilchrist, imme-
diately fell on their knees, and, after a pause, gave
utterance to mcoherent and unmtelligibie expres-
sions of gratitude. Harrison and Wilson still re-
maining silent, and apparently unmoved.

Mr. Brown said, " I have now to show you the

COM) LCI OK THE I'KISONKRS. 355

dark side of the nicture. Your unfortunate mi-
serable companions in crime who were tried, are
ordered for execution on Monday morning; and
you, Harrison, Wilson, Cooper, Strange, and
Bradburn, arc transported for life."

Wilson, who before liad appeared perfectly cal-
lous, now exclaimed, " Ah ! our poor friends ; I
am indeed sorry for them." Harrison said no-
thing; the others were too much occupied with
the joy of their own escape to bestow a thought
upon those who were to ibrfeit their lives.

j\ir. Brown said, " There is one of the most re-
markable circumstances attending your cases that
ever took place upon any occasion ; and, if you
have any feeling, it must make a deep and indelible
impression upon you. Those very persons against
whose lives your hands were about to be raised,
are the men by whose intercession your lives have
been saved."

After Mr. Brown had performed so much of his
painful task, he proceeded to another step, which
excited in the breast of some of the prisoners a
strong feeling of irritation, namely, to place them
in separate condemned cells.

They had entertained a hope that they would
be permitted to si)end the last few hours of their
life together, mutually to cheer each other by
their example, and to obtain those consolations
which the society of friends in so melancholy a
situation must necessarily produce. Mr. Brown,
how^ever, had received his instructions, and was
bound to attend to them, although he might him-
self have been anxious to grant them every in-
dulgence consistent with their safety.

The five unhappy men, whose hours were now
numbered, were each removed to the place ap-
pointed, and were still accompanied by two of the
under turnkeys.

The reason assigned for this arrangement, w^as
the existence of a spirit of hardihood among the

2 z 2

356 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACi'.

unfortunate men, \yhich, while they remained to-
gether, seemed but to jncresse.

In the early part of Saturday, they had been vi-
sited ]}y the KevcrGnd lAr. Coitoii (the Orriiiiary
of Newgate}, ?i;d exhcrl'-d l/y liini lO have re-
course to those yrayeid which had been iso scrongly
and humanely recommended by the Lord Chief
Justice. They were, however, deaf to his en-
treaties, and conjointly told him, that however
much they respected his motives, still that their
minds were made up on religious subjects ; they
were Deists, and therefore not inclined to join in
that form of appeal to Heaven, which, in the ex-
ercise of his F.acred functions, he thought It neces-
sary to sugn;est, Mv. CclU..i iliuliiig lu-d lu■^ .x':~
gument3 were productive of no goud l'^l.ci, l^ii
them with regret.

He repealed his vir.it'i curing tlie auciiioon, but
with as little sncccu^;, a.iu ihen dc lermined not to
renew bio s'::ic:tAti..u3 lor bome hcufs, ^7ideh
would a'low time f-j: quiet relleeUon, cciieludin:?'
that while their mhids ^.vc/c in a state ci' irrita-
tion, he was stiil lews lilvely to open their hearts
to that coiitrite fcelim.';, from v.'hich he could alciie
hope to bring them to a true sense of their uitua-
tion.

On Sunday morniug he re-commeneed his pious
labours, and on entering their cells, repeated his
former arguments ; but they again repeated their
disbelief in the divinity of Christ, and refused
through his mediation to seek pardon of their of-
fended Maker.

Davidson alone listened with attention, and he
at length begged Mr. Cotton to procure him a
Wesleyan minister. His wish was connnuni-
cated to Mr. iBrown, who, in the coiirse of the
morning attended at Whitehall, and reported
the circumstance. The Wesleyan minister se-
lected by Davidson, was a person of the name of
Rennett, who, it seems, iiad been a journeyman

CONDUC'l' OK THE PUISOXLHiJ. 357

tailor, and Imd sometimes preached amon;^ the
'"NVeslcyans ; Davidson's selection of Inni on this
occnsion, was ibundcd on tonu' ^hu'it iuiowledge
of him. As liii.-; nir.n, huwcv-j;-, \vd< in a situa-
tion in liio n )t well adu;;;.-d lo r^vcii iiic li"]}'
tenets of sai\aaon tu a dyia,^' man, it was tliought
prudent to decdne intruducing him to the pri-
soner.

In the course of Sunday, a most decided change
took place in Davidson's manner and conduct,
and havinii- been induced to abandon his v,ish of
receivHig' spiritual comfort from the Weslcyan
minister, it was suggested, that if he desired it,
he should have a regular clergyman of any per-
suasion h\' ":]y:]\'- t! ii.^: iii. ( \ 'av-t 'y i-i'- nro-
positi(jii au:dn i\\;eaied lo 'u:"^ il^u ravs ufClirif--
tianity, but■s^ as it v,c:re, liirc;;;-'-;! iiis dun-'.-oa's
gloom, and ::•:• iniin;;aiaielv i\.'!iits:ed t:.e snintuul
consolation (;[" th(; ]levei\nd jw. Coti^;n. That
gentleman vj'dlL'd liiir* in^ri.cdialciv. and contii^ined
to attend hiin, and t'^ admini-ter ad' the consola-
tion in liis power to t'le vvrolched liion. iv) to ihe
last moment of his life Tlie ind;>a;;pv l.-avidson
also be.iued to be fa\'(:;ured with [)en, ink, and
paper, as lie v/as anxioas to wriie to Lord Har-
rowby, towards v.lium l;c continued to oiiiress
the warmest respect. This rerpicst was granted,
and he wrote a letter of some length, (see p. 4i())
wdiich he sealed, and w^hich was afterwards given
to Mr. Under-Sheritf Turner, to be debvered.

On Sunday afternoon, the heart-rending scene
of introducing the families of the wretched men
to take a last farewell, was gone throuuh.

Thistlewood's interview with liis Vs-ite and son
was truly ati'ecting; and the scenes exhibiteil in
the oth(n' cells w(M-e of tli'j ino'^t a-oni/ing de-
scription. Tiie niitnrtunatc childreu, cap;d)lc of
under^'tancbir^- the sihiai'on ct' tiieir unhappy ])a-
rents, -vvere convulsed with sorrow, 'ihe strongest
i'eelinss of commiseration were c:xcited in the

358 CATO-STREET CONSPIUACV.

minds of those whose painful duty it was to be
present.

Brunt formed a solitary exception to this re-
mark. His composure on taking leave of his wife
was of the most extraordinary description: he
expressed himself in the most unmoved manner,
and declared that the day of his execution would
be to him the happiest of his life.

The solemn service of the condemned sermon,
usually preached in the chapel at Newgate, to
repentant criminals, who are about to expiate
their crimes with their blood, was on this occa-
sion, reluctantly dispensed with. The miserable
malefactors had so decidedly pronounced them-
selves Deists, and (with the exception of David-
son, and even he, until Sunday, had fully con-
curred with them) had evinced in all parts of
their conduct so awful a disregard of the precepts
of Christianity and disbelief in its divine origin,
as to excite an apprehension that their blasphemous
principles would manifest themselves in some
dreadful act of infidelity during divine service ; it
was therefore thought more prudent to omit the
ceremony altogether, than to subject the adminis-
tration of our holy religion to public insult by
avowed and hardened infidels ; and this determi-
nation was perfectly agreeable to the miserable
beings themselves, who had boasted of being im-
penetrable to repentance, and determined to end
the brief remnant of their days in the same horrid
anti-christian principles which they had throughout
professed.

In the course of Sunday, Alderman Wood
called twice upon Mr. Brown, and requested to
be introduced to the prisoners, Mr. Brown said
he would willingly have complied with the worthy
Alderman's request, but his instructions were,
not to permit any person to have intercourse with
the unhappy men, save their families, unless under
the sanction of an order from the Privy Council.

CONDUCT OF THK PRISONERS, 359

Mr. Alderman Wood then begged that he would
carry to the prisoners three written questions,
and obtain the answers ; but this also Mr. Brown
refused, upon the principle of the strict perform-
ance of his duty.

During nearly the whole of Sunday night, the
deluded malefactors, who were attended by the
city constables, slept soundly, and were only
awakened by the unbarring of their cell doors, to
admit the Reverend Ordinary. He found them
in their separate cells, and went to each, urging
every pious argument to reclaim them to the paths
of Christianity.

On Thistlewood, Tidd, Ings, and Brunt, how-
ever, his arguments were unavailing ; but on Da-
vidson his endeavours were crowned wdth suc-
cess, and in the most fervent manner this unfor-
tunate man joined in prayer with Mr. Cotton for
mercy at the hands of his Redeemer.

The cells in which these delinquents were
confmed, though separated by strong walls of
stone, were not sufficiently detached to prevent
them from speaking to each other, and Ings,
speaking, daring the night, of the approaching
awful exhibition tiicy were to make, remarked
to one of his companions, wdth savage disap-
pointment, " that there would be ])lenty of per-
sons present ; but d — n the , they had no

pluck/' Indeed, it seemed impossible to divert
the mind of this wretched man from the original
object by wdiich he h.ad been actuated; he often
made declarations of the most terrific nature, and,
amongst others, "he wished that liis ]:)ody might
be conveyed to the King, and that his Majesty,
or his cooks, might make turtle-soup of it I"'

At five o'clock on Monday morning, ]\Ir. Cotton
went again to the gaol, and proceeded to the
condemned cells with the hallowed elements of
the sacrament, which was administered to and
received by Davidson with the utmost devotion.

360 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

The Reverend Gentleman offered the same
means of redemption to the other culprits, who,
however, were immutable in their infidelity.

Brunt partook of the wine oftered to him, but
only for the purpose of drinking the King's health,
which he appeared to do cordially. Davidson
also drank the King's health, and joined fervently
in the prayer for him and the Royal Family,
which is in the established Church Service

At six o'clock breakfast was ordered for the
wretched men, and all but Davidson expressed
a desire that they might be allowed to breakfast
together. It was known, however, that they
wished to arrange and mature what each should
say upon the scatTold, and therefore Mr. Brov/n
most prudently refrained from complying with
this request.

While these occurrences were taking place
within the gaol, the exhibition without Avas not
destitute of interest ; and the arrangements
making among the ])erson-; v;'iosc ciiiciai duties
connected them with tlie final cxcjulion ;)f the
law, Vv^ere of the highc.^:f: im])ortanco.

The Sund'.iy papers l.i! annoanced the ;^criod
fixed A>r ilie oxje:>non, aiul a:; ihh' vas iic-
companied '>y a i'\-cz\'\.A\->\i Ciac a t-L:;!^ si v' -s
to be erected ^'ii llio [:);? (!■' (le l/Ji^;:> >, \ ••■(•■v. •■•■ r I'h
the ignomiiilijUs sciitcuce was to be performed,
thousands of persons Hocked towards the Old
Bailey, and continued to do so during the day,
assembling in groups for information, and not
unfrequently indulging in language disgraceful to
themselves, and alarming to those who i'elt
anxious for the peace of the metropolis. Aniong
these persons were many who had long !)cea
known as the constant attendants at th.ose iaclioiis
meetings, tjie rcpctitio.-^ ui' windi \ia\^' becii \u\^~
ductive of so nnicli mi .^ciiit. L

On Saiuifit'v r- cn!i1:r^ ^Ir. Slierilf R'nlnv^ii

rHM'AUAri.ivs i-oii Tin: kxkcl-t/o.n . 3G1

and Mr. Uiuler-Shcriff Turner, had waited on
Lurd SidmoiUh to arrange the mode in which the
execution should take })lacc. The plan at first
proposed of erecting- a scatibld on the top of the
prison at the end near Ncwg:ate-strect, was then
co^isidered and abandoned, Lord Sidmouth being
of opinion that there was no necessity for de-
parting from the form customary on like oc-
casions ; and, on the suugestion of Sheriff Roth-
well, it was further resolved to dispense with
that part of the sentence which directed that
the culprits should be drawn on a hurdle to the
place of execution, in consideration of the great
inconvenience that might arise in conveying them
along the streets in the manner which had been
adopted on ibrmer occasions, namely, Irom the
court-yard in front of the Sessions-house to the
scaffold.

On the return of Mr. Sheriff RothwcU and Mr.
Under-Sheriff Turner, from the office of the Secre-
tary of State, with their final instructions, they
directed Mr. Montague, one of the surveyors of
public buildings in the city, to make the neces-
sary arrangements for resisting the pressure of
the crowd which was anticipated, and for enlarg-
ing the ordinary scaffold to such a size as would
admit of the performance of the more awful
part of the ceremony — that of decapitating the
criminals.

To effect these works, a great number of
men were suddenly called into requisition, and
during the whole of Sunday they were actively
engaged.

The addition to the scaffold was made in the
Court-yard in front of the Sessions-house, and
the loud strokes of the carpenters' hammers soon
attracted the attention of the passengers, hundreds
of whom mounted upon the wall to view what
was going forward. The confusion created at
this spt.t mduccfl Mr. Montague to send to t^.e

;5 A

362 CATO-STIIEKT COXSPlUACr.

Lord Mayor for the aid of some constables, and
in a short time the City Marshal, arrived at the head
of several officers. The crowd was immediately
removed from the wall, and order was restored

Curiosity was next directed to the workmen at
the ends of the various avenues leading to the
Old Bailey, across which strong posts and rails
were erected in such a manner as to prevent the
distant crowd from throwing the whole of their
weight on those in front, and thereby preventing
that confusion and danger which otherwise would
have been incurred, and which was productive
of such melancholy consequences at the execution
of Holloway and Haggertv, for the murder of
Mr. Steel*.

There were double rows of rails across the top
of the Old Bailey, across Newgate-street, Gill-
Bpur- street, Skinner-street, Fleet-lane, and in fact
at the mouth of every approach to the prison.

In the course of Sunday morning Mr. Sheriff
Roth well and Mr. Under Sheriff Turner held a
consultation with the Lord Mayor, as to the neces-
sity of applying to the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, to direct the attendance of a
military force, not alone in the prison, but in its
immediate vicinity.

The resuit of their deliberations was, that such
an application was highly proper; and accordingly
Mr. Turner was despatched to Whitehall, with a
letter to Lord Sidmouth, intimating the wdsh of
the Lord Mayor. Li consequence of this appli-
cation, in the course of the afternoon one hundred
men were ordered to proceed to the gaol of New-
gate, and a detachment of fifty was c^uartered in
Giltspur-street Compter.

Other detachments were on duty at a short
distance from the prison. Li fact, every possible
precaution was adopted to prevent disturbance or
disorder.

* See Newgate Calendar, Vol. .1.

ria.l'AllATIO.Vi iOR THE tXKClTION. 363

As the evenini^ advanced, the throng- in front of
the prison increased, and at eight o'clock the pres-
sure was so great, that it required the utmost
exertions oi the consteibles on duty to prevent
llie interruption of the workmen. Thousands
of all ranks and ages congregated in front of the
gaol.

The scaffold liad been brought forth from the
Court-yard, and the carpenters were busily em-
ployed in erecting the additional platform, which
was ten feet square, and constructed with great
solidity. They continued their operations by
torch-light, which seemed as it were but to make
*' darkness visible,'" and considerably enhanced
the solemnity of the scene.

Such was the anxiety of some to witness the
execution, that they literally determined to remain
in the neighbourhood all night, and thousands
sacriticed their natural rest to the gratification of
their curiosity.

Tiie v.indows of the houses in the Old Bailey
and tlie streets adjacent, commanding a view of
the scaffold were let out at exorbitant prices.
The sums demanded for a view from the windows
were from ten shillings to two guineas, but even
at these prices there was a superabundance of ap-
plicants.

V^ery early on Monday morning, the bar, which
had previously been bounded but by one rank of
spectators, was enclosed by a second, and the
assembling populace soon began to assume the
ajjpearance of a crowd. They stood in inimense
masses by the time the clock struck five.

An idea partially prevailed, that the area imme-
diately without the rail which encompassed the
scaffold, where on ordinary occasions spectators
are allowed to stand, would be cleared out when
the constables arrived, and this induced many to
take their stations beyond the first barrier. This
' 3 A 2

364 CATO-STKEET CONSPIRACV.

apprehension turned out to be weil-lbiindcd ; and,
at a quarter past five, those wlio had been for
hours clinging to the mner rail were obliged reluct-
antly to abandon the situations in whicli they
had proposed to witness the execution. No
exceptions were made ; and none but officers, and
those engaged to assist in the preparations, were
suffered to remain. Compelled to retire from the
immediate vicinity of the scaffold, they attempted
to take up a position beyond the first rail, but
they were again disappointed, and the officers still
pressed on them till they had retreated beyond
the second bar, which was placed at the very
extremity of the Old Bailey, on a line with l\ew-
gate-street.

The lamp-iron which is fixed in the wall of the
prison between the corner of the street and the
Debtor's door had been climbed by three persons,
and that at the corner was taken possession of in
the same way. Both were now relieved from the
the load which they had sustained for hours. The
pump, and the lamps above it, were crowded to
an extraordinary degree. The situation appeared
one of danger, but those who had taken the
trouble to ascend it were suffered to remain.

When the crowd had passed the second bar
(that which crossed the road from the end of New-
gate-street), it was immediately lined with con-
stables. In the opposite direction, a similar course
v^ as taken, and a bar erected a little below tiie
Felons' door precluded on that side any closer
approach.

An extensive area was thus taken from the
ground which the populace on ordinary occasions
are suffered to occupy. The precautions ado])ted
on this occasion greatly surpassed those resorted
to on tb.at of Bellinghanfs execution ; but placards
like thostj then addressed to the populace, warnmg
th( in oft In; danger of pressing forward too eagerly,
Iroiu the iuurc efficient measures taken to Lfuard

PRErAUATloXS TOR Till: KXECUTIOX. 3G5

against the pressure of the crowd, were thought
unnecessary.

Between five and six oclock a great quantity
of sa\\'dust was brought out and deposited beneath
the scaffold on wliich the decoUations were to be
performed. It was shortly afterwards transferred
to the top of it, and at tlie same time black cloth
was brought, and the scaffold erected in the rear
of the drop was completely covered with it. The
posts which sustained the chains above it received
the same sable attire ; and while these prepara-
tions were in progress, every avenue leading into
the Old Bailey was carefully secured by strong
wooden rails fixed across, and guarded by con-
stables.

At twenty minutes before six, a party of the
Foot Guards (sixty-one in number) came out of
the prison by the felons'-door; they passed down
Brown's-yard, opposite Newgate, where they
were ordered to remain till their services should
be required. At the same time, a detachment
moved down Newgate-street towards the City, to
secure the peace of the metropolis, should it be
in any manner threatened.

Before six o'clock, the City-Marshals arrived ;
and Mr. Sheriff Rothwell made his appearance at
at the same moment, lie was not accompanied
by his colleague, the Junior Sheriff. He carefully
inspected the ])rcparations for the awful business
of the morning. The crowd, before repressed
beyond the felons'-door, were about this time
compelled to move still lower down towards
Ludgate-hill.

Mr. Alderman Wood also arrived on the spot
very early in the morning ; and, on first going
into Mr. Brown's office, expressed considerable
indiunation at his not being suffered to comnmnc
with the convicts when he called at Newgate on
Sunday; stating that the gaol was no longer
under the direction of the citv, but under ihat ol

3GG cATO-srHi;KT conspikacv.

Lord Sidmonth, orders having been issued irom
tlie Secretary of State's office, to suffer no one to
see these convicts, unless by a properly authenti-
cated order.

At six o'clock the constables assembled in im-
mense numbers, and the firemen from the different
insurance-offices were among them.

Shortly after six, the City-Marshal called
over the names of the ofiicers in attendance
from the different City wards. This done, they
were formed into several parties, and its proper
station was assigned to each.

At this time the Lord-Mayor attended, and, ac-
companied by the City-Marshal superintended the
whole of the arrangements.

During the time occupied by the preparations
above described, the conduct of the countless
thousands assembled on this av/fully interesting
occasion was peaceable in the extreme. Curiosity
seemed powerfully excited; but no ])olitical feeling-
was manifested by any part of the crowd, and
they awaited the termination of the dreadful scene
in silence. Sometimes a low murmur ran through
the expecting multitude, as some new object con-
nected with the proceedings was pressed on their
attention ; but it was a murmur of surprise or of
interest, which never took the tone of clamorous
disapprobation.

For a rescue — if it was ever contemplated — all
hopes of accomplishing it must have been annihi-
lated by the precautions we have enumerated.
The powerful ibrce assembled on the spot must
have convinced the most frantic Radicals that all
resistance was vain, and escape on failure impos-
sible.

It was generally reported that the execution
would take place an hour before the usual time of
execution. At a quarter before seven, the per-
sons accommodated at the top of the prison were
ob,>t ^\^d fo .retire from the Iront of the buildin;r.

rUF.l'AllATloNs 1 OK TllF. r.XKC U! lO V. 'Mu

This, in coiise(|uence of tlie rumour just alluded
to, caused it to be generally surmised that the
prisoners were about to be led out immediately.
The rumour, however, proved to be unfounded.

At seven o'clock, the crowd which was collected
about the prison, in every avenue leading to it, or
commanding- the most distant glimpse of its walls,
was beyond all calculation ; but still there was not
the least appearance of disorder. In lact, such
were the formidable preparations to preserve the
peace, that no possible alarm could exist. In the
event of a riot, however, the Lord Mayor was
prepared with large boards on poles, ready to be
used, should it become necessary to read the Riot
Act. They were brought within the rail which
enclosed the gallows; and bills were immediately
nailed to them, containing, in large characters,
the following words :

THE RIOT-ACT HAS BEEN READ.
DISPERSE IMMEDIATELY.

These were then laid down on each side of the
debtors'-door. Of course they were not exhibited
to the populace, being only prepared to be used
in case of necessity, that, if unhappily it should
become the duty of the civil authorities to have
recourse to so strong a measure, it might be im-
possible for tiie multitude to be ignorant of the
peril to which they would be exposed by neg-
lecting to yield prompt obedience to the mandate.

A party of the Life (iuards was stationed to-
wards the lower end of the Old-Bailey, and a
small detachment appeared at the end next St.
Sepulchre's Church. On a sudden a loud noise
attracted the attention of every one ; this was
caused by the awkward situation in which a
person had placed himself, who, having got within
the second bar, had clambered up against one >>(
the houses, where the constables, who felt it tlu'ir

368 CATO-STRlvLT COXSPIIIACY.

duty to remove him, could not get at him. He
was at length pulled down by the heels, amidst
the boisterous laughter of the crowd, who in this
manifested all the thoughtlesss levity of a common
mob — a levity not milike that described by the un-
fortunate Hackman to have preceded the execu-
tion of Dr. Dodd*.

Several persons of distinction — among others
some military officers of rank — arrived in the
course of the morning, and Mr, Brown, the gaoler,
afforded them accommodation in his house. They
took their places at the drawing-room windows,
and were thus enabled to command an excellent
view of the whole melancholy scene.

Shortly after seven o'clock, the executioner
made his appearance on the drop, and placed the
steps by which he was to ascend to tie the
sufferers to the fatal beam. The saw-dust, which
had been previously collected in two small heaps
on the second scaffold, was now spread over the
boards.

The coffins were then brought out, and placed
on the saw-dust, the foot of each being put so as
nearly to touch the platform, from which those
who were to fill them were to be launched into
eternity. They had no lids on them. The coffin
of Thistlewood was first lifted out. The third
coffin brought out appeared longer than the
others, and was supposed to be intended for
Davidson, who was the tallest man ; but this
conjecture proved erroneous.

The persons employed to bring the coffins swept
out the large one, and then proceeded to throw
saw-dust into tliem, that the blood of the sufferers
might not liud its way through.

The block was now brought up, and placed at
the head of the first coffin. Most of the specta-
tors were surprised at the shape of the block, as.

* Soc Newgate Calendar, Vol, 2.

CoNDL'CT QF 1 HE CRl HI XA LS. 3G9

instead of presenting a flat surface, it was slanted
off, so that the top of it was quite sharp.

The awful moment was now rapidly approach-
ing when the ill-fated men were to be removed
to another world. Each of them conversed
freely with the officer^i who had them in charge,
and severally declared that moment to be the hap-
piest of their lives.

Davidson alone continued to pray fervently to
the moment of his removal ; but the others seemed
perfectly unmoved by their approaching fate.

The six prisoners who had received the royal
clemency, had been previously removed to another
part of the prison, under the care and superin-
tendence of a turnkey.

The four before-mentioned, viz. Strange, Cooper,
Bradburn, and Gilchrist, continued to express
themselves in the most grateful and enthusiastic
terms, that their lives had been saved through the
kind and benevolent interposition of those illus-
trious personages whose lives were intended to fall
sacrifices to their diabolical project; but Wilson
and Harrison persisted in the most obstinate in-
difference to the mercy which had been so gra-
ciously extended towards them. During the
night and morning, they became excessively
uneasy; and, while they wept for the ignominious
fate of their companions, they expressed a wish
that they might have been participators in its
consequences, horrible as they were.

About half-past seven o'clock, the Sheriffs,
Under-Sheriffs, several young noblemen, and a
number of gentlemen, walked in the procession
(as is usual) through the various passages in
Newgate, till they arrived at the door of the con-
demned cells, which comes into the press-yard.
The mihappy criminals, since receiving sentence
of death, had been confined in the lower ward of
tlie prison assigned to capital convicts.

Thi>tlewood came out of the condemned cell
3 h

370 t;ATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

first; he bowed to the Sheriffs and gentlemen
present; he looked very pale, he cast up his
eyes, and said, " It appears fine." He displayed
uncommon firmness, and held out his hands for
the assistant executioner to tie them. He observed
to the persons near him, that he never felt in
better spirits in the course of his life. He w^as
attired in the same apparel that he wove during-
his trial. The composure he exhibited was
striking ; but there was nothing like bravado or
carelessness. He now advanced to the block to
have his irons knocked off; and, while the turnkey
was in the act,

Mr. Alderman Wood advanced to Thistlewood,
and said, " Thistlewood, I wish you to give me
an answer to two or three questions."

Mr. Sheriff Rothvell — " Mr. Alderman, I must
interfere. I am sure you have had quite expe-
rience enough of magisterial duties to know, that
on a solemn occasion of this kind, you ought not
to interfere with a prisoner on the point of
death."

Mr. Aldeiman Wood — " You prevented me, Mr.
Sheriff, from entering Newgate yesterday, to
obtain the information I am now about to seek.
You have no authority to prevent me from now
having it, as the gaol is this day under the super-
intendence of Lord Sidmouth ; and I must persist
in obtaining answers to my questions, if the pri-
soner chooses to give them."

Mr. Sheriff Rothwell — " I cannot suffer you to
disturb the quiet of this unhappy man's mind at
this awful moment, Mr. Alderman. I must, by
virtue of my office, interfere, and prevent you
from doing any thing which can have a ten-
dency to distract the mind of a man in his awful
situation — one who is indeed dead in law."

Mr. Sheriff Parkins — " 1 must insist on the
Worthy Alderman's being permitted to put any
question he pleases, unless the prisoner objects.

eOXDLCT OK illi: CUI.MJ \A I !»:. 371

I now authorise Aklennuii Wood to put whatever
questions he wishes."

Mr. Sheriff Ilothicell — " Well, I must again
object. I think it highly improper."

Mr. Alderman Wood — " I have the questions
here written down, and I'll put them to you.
Tliistlewood, when did yon first become ac-
(piainted with Edwards ?"

Thistkxcood — " About June last.*'

Mr. Alderman Wood — " Where did yon become
acquainted with Edwards ?"

Thistleicood — " At Preston's."'

Mr. Alderman Wood, who did not appear to liave
heard the final letter, said, " At Preston, in Lan-
cashire ?"

Thistleicood — " No : at Preston's, the shoe-
maker."

Mr. Alderman Wood — " Did he ever give you any
money ?"'

Thislleirood — " Yes, I had a little from him, a
pound-note at a time."

The Worthy Alderman wrote down the answers
lie had received to his questions.

Mr. Sheriff Rothwell appeared extremely angry
at the course taken by the Worthy Alderman,
while his colleague, i\lr. Sheriff Parkins, expressed
his warm approbation of it.

Tidd next made his appearance ; he came out
of the cell into the Press-yard with an air of
assumed gaiety. He smiled during the time he
was being pinioned, and continued quite cheerful
during the time his irons were knocking off. The
moment his legs were free from their burden, he
ran towards Thistlewood, who had taken a seat
on a bench (placed in the yard for tlic purpose),
and said, " Well, Mr. Thistlewood, how do you
do r" and they shook hands most heartily. This-
tlewood said, " He was never better," Tidd
conversed in the most gay and cheerful manner

2 n 2

372 tATO-STRLF.T CONSPIUACY.

with tlie turnkey, while he was driving the rivets
out of his irons, and composedly assisted the
man in taking them off.

Ings then came out of the cell, and danced as
he came down the steps along the yard. He was
dressed in his usual cfothes as a butcher, a rough
pepper-and-salt coloured worsted jacket, and a
dirty cap. During the time his hands were being-
tied he became thoughtful, afterwards he seemed
hurried and in great mental pain; but before his
irons were knocked off he began to laugh and
shout, and afterwards took a seat by the side of
his fellovv^-sufferers.

Brunt was then brought into the Press-yard ;
he was perfectly composed, but looked round
eagerly to see his wretched companions.. He
nodded to them, and then held out his hands to
have them tied. He said nothing during the time
he was being pinioned and having his irons taken
off; but afterwards he addressed Thistlewood,
Tidd, and Ings ; he told them to keep up their
spirits, and to one of his companions he said,
" All will soon be well."

Davidson was then brought out of his cell ; he
seemed a little affected at the sight of his compa-
nions, but soon regained that composure which
he evinced during the trials. His lips moved;
but he did not betray much anxiety till his irons
were knocked off. He then looked wildly at the
Rev. Mr. Cotton, and appeared to be in prayer,
very devoutly ; the others declared they were
about to die in peace with all mankind, but that
they had all made up their minds on religious
matters, and were determined to die Deists.

Davidson took the sacrament in the morning at
six o'clock, from Mr. Cotton, and prayed most
fervently. He also joined the Rev. Gentleman
in a prayer for the prosperity of his Majesty
King George IV., though he avowed he had net

COXDICT 01 TUK CUIMINALS. 373

the same feeling- for his ministers. A glass of
wine was offered to Thistlewood, who politely-
refused. Tidd and Brunt took a glass each.

The irons of the culprits were then knocked off
in succession. Thistlewood requested Mr. Cotton
to speak to him, but for no other motive than to
request he would observe his conduct had been
manly, and to state that he was perfectly happy,
and died in peace with God.

Even to the last moment, the attentions of the
Reverend Ordinary to the four men whom w^c
have pointed out were unavailing: to every re-
monstrance he offered, the only answer was, they
wanted no assistance of his, their minds were
perfectly made up on religious subjects, and they
believed they should receive mercy at the hands
of God.

When the awful ceremony of pinioning the cul-
prits by the yeoman of the halter was concluded,
they each shook hands, and most fervently ex-
claimed, '' God bless you." The Reverend Mr.
Cotton then began to read the burial service, com-
mencing at the words " I am the resurrection and
the life, ' ^c, and, the arrangements being com-
pleted, the procession advanced through the dark
passages of the gaol, led by the Sheriffs and
Under- Sheriffs. The Reverend Mr. Cotton moved
first,

Thistlewood followed, with his eyes fixed, as
it were, in abstract thought, and apparently lost
to his situation. A vacant and unmeaning stare
pervaded his countenance, which seemed un-
moved by the devotions of the pious Ordinary.

Tidd walked next, and although somewhat
affected by his situation, his manner was collected,
manly, and unaffectedly firm.

Ings came next, and was laughing without
reserve, and used every forced effort to subdue
the better feelings of nature, which might rcnnnd
him of his awiul .situation; his conduct \\a>

374 '^- CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

more like a delirium of fear than an effect of
courage.

Brunt, in fixed and hardened obduracy of mind,
next advanced, and with a sullen and morose air
of indifference surveyed the officers v.ho were
conducting him to his fate.

The unhappy Davidson came last, with clasped
I)ands and uplifted eyes, praying most devoutly ;
and the officers of the gaol closed the mournful
procession.

On their arrival at the Lodge, from which the
Debtors'-door leads to the scaffold, a moment's
pause took place, while the dreadful parapher-
nalia of death were adjusted without. Thistle-
wood, who stood first, clasped his lips, and with
a frown surveyed, from the door-\/ay in which he
stood, the awful preparations for his fate.

The Under- Sheriff", at this period stepped into
the road from the Governor's house, to ascertain
how far the preparations had proceeded. Every
thing seemed to be completely arranged. A
party of the Horse-Guards seemed about to pass
the barrier beyond which they had previously
been stationed, but they did not persevere, in
consequence of the difficulty of penetrating the
crowd.

The persons who had previously retired from
the front of the prison now (at twenty minutes
before eight) returned to their old places on the
top of it. This, with other circumstances just
particularized, announced that the culprits were
about to be conducted to the scaffold.

The re- appearance of the executioner, and the
solemn sound of the bell, removed all doubt on
the subject. Every one felt that the awful
moment was at hand ; and the assembled
thousands stood uncovered in silent, breathless,
expectation.

Tliosc o}i[)(>sitc the prison saw in the next
iiifmcnt the procession from the interior of it

THL i:XECUTIOX. 37 J

reach the door through which the culprits
were to pass to expiate their crimes with their
blood.

The Ordinary ascended the platform, and at a
quarter before eight Thistlewood made his ap-
pearance on the scaffold. His step faultered a
little as he mounted the platform, and his coun-
tenance was somewhat flushed and disordered
on being conducted to the extremity of the drop.
His deportment was firm, and he looked round at
the multitude with perfect calmness. He had
an orange in his hand. On the cap being placed
on his head, he desired that it might not be put
over his eyes. While the executioner was
putting the rope round his neck, a person from
the top of the houses exclaimed, " Good Al-
mighty bless you." Thistlewood nodded. The
Reverend Mr. Cotton, by whom he was pre-
ceded, endeavoured to obtain his attention ; but
he shook his head, and said, '' No, no." He
looked round repeatedly, as expecting to re-
cognise some one in the crowd, and appeared
rather disconcerted at observing the distance
to svliich the populace were removed.

Some of those to whom the face of Thistlewood
was not familiar, imagined that he gave proofs
of the fear of death upon the scaffold, but in this
supposition they were much mistaken. At the
moment that he has been heard uttering his
dangerous politics in safety, and declaring his
determination to stand or fall by them, the ex-
])ression of his features was the same ; and
Thistlewood with the rope round his neck was
the same Thistlewood that appeared so con-
spicuous at Smithfield.

Mr. Cotton approached him while the ex-
ecutioner was making his awful arrangements,
and spoke to him upon the subject of his thoughts
of hereafter. Thistlewood shook his head, and
said he required no earthly help upon that

37G CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

subject. He then sucked his orange, and,
looking down at the officers who were collected
about the scaffold, said, in a firm voice, " I have
but a few moments to live, and I hope the world
will be convinced that I have been sincere in my
endeavours, and that I die a friend to liberty.'*

The figure of the miserable man, which natu-
rally was not good, had undergone a change for
the worse : in consequence of the pressure of the
rope with which his arms were fastened behind,
his shoulders were raised to a degree that closely
approached deformity. The executioner having
placed the cap upon his head, and fastened the
rope round the beam, looked towards the Sheriff
as a sisnal that his duties towards Thistlewood
were completed.

While the executioner was performing his last
offices without to this wretched man, the scene
within the Lodge was almost beyond the power
of description. The dreadful obduracy of Brunt
and Ings filled with horror the small assemblage
of persons among whom they stood.

Ings, with a hardihood almost indescribable,
sucked an orange, with which Sheriff Parkins had
provided him, as well as all the other prisoners,
and sung, or rather screamed, in a discordant
voice, " Oh! give me death or liberty!" Brunt
rejoined, " Aye, to be sure. It is better to die
free, than to live slaves !'*

A gentleman in the Lodge admonished them to
consider their approaching fate, and to recollect
the existence of a Deity, into whose supreme
presence a few minutes would usher them.

Brunt exclaimed, " I know there is a God I"
and Ings added, " Yes, to be sure ; and I hope
he will be more merciful to us than they are here,"

Tidd, who had stood in silence, was now sum-
moned to the scaffold. lie shook hands with all
but Davidson, who had separated himself from
tlir rest.

THE EXECUTION. 377

Ings again seized Tidd's liand at the moment
he was going out, and exclaimed, with a burst of
laughter, " Give us your hand ! Good-bye !"

A tear stood in Tidd's eye, and his lips invo-
luntarily muttered, " My wife and !"

Ings proceeded — " Come my old cock-o'-wax,
keep up your spirits ; it all will be over soon."'

Tidd immediately squeezed his hand, and
ran towards the stairs leading to the scaffold.
In his hurry, his foot caught the bottom step, and
he stumbled. He recovered himself, however, in
an instant, and rushed upon the scaffold, where
he was immediately received with three cheers
from the crowd, in which he made a slight effort
to join.

The applause was evidently occasioned by the
bold and fearless manner in ^\■hich the wretched
man advanced to his station. He turned to the
crowd who were upon Snow-hill, and bowed to
them. He then looked down upon the coffins and
smiled, and turning round to the people who were
collected in the Old-Bailey towards Ludgate-hill,
bowed to them. Several voices were again heard,
and some in the crowd expressed their admira-
tion of Tidd's conduct.

The rope having been put round his neck, he
told the executioner that the knot would be better
on the right than on the left side, and that the
pain of dying might be diminished by the change.
He then assisted the executioner, and turned
round his head several times for the purpose of
fitting the ro])e to his neck, lie afterwards fami-
liarly nodded to some one whom he recognised at
a window, with an air of cheerfulness. He also
desired that the cap might not be put over his
eyes, but said nothing more. He likwise had an
orange in his hand, which he continued to suck
most heartily. He soon became perfectly calm,
and remained so till the last moment of his life.
In the interim, Davidson, who had not yet
3 c

378 CATO-STREKT CONSPIUACT.

come out, leaned with his back against a dresser
in the lodge, and continued with his hands clasped,
praying in the most fervent manner, and calling
with unfeigned and unreserved piety for the inter-
vention of the Redeemer. Brunt and Ings, how-
ever, persevered in the same hardihood that they
had manifested throughout, and continued vent-
ing their thoughts in unreserved ejaculations.

A humane individual who stood by remon-
strated with Brunt again, and besought him to
ask pardon of God.

Brunt, with a fierce and savage air, surveyed his
adviser contemptuously, and exclaimed, " What
have I done? I have done nothing ! What should
I ask pardon for?" The stranger rejoined, ** So
you say. Brunt; but if you have ever injured any
man, or done any thing which your conscience
tells you is wrong, ask pardon of God, penitently
and sincerely, and you will, I have no doubt,
obtain mercy." — Brunt replied, " I die with a
perfectly clear conscience. I have made my
peace with Gad, and I never injured no man."
The stranger proceeded, " Believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ !" Brunt surveyed his humane ad-
viser again, and muttered, " My mind is made
up.''

" Well done. Brunt !" exclaimed Ings, and was
again proceeding to sing,

** Oh give me death or Uberty,"
when he was summoned to the scaffold. lie
turned to Brunt, and, with a smile on his counte-
nance, shook hands with him, and prepared to
go. While the hatch was opening, he exclaimed,
with a loud voice, *' Remember me to King
George the IVth ; God bless him, and may he
have a long reign." He now recollected that he
had some clothes left behind, which he requested
might be given to his wife. The wretched man
had thrown off the clothes in which he had been
tried, and had put on an old butcher's jacket, de-

JA:OLr:Ji^ iTiBS.

TiiomAS :r3:H-0:!>!-;r

r.ilisl, I l< '\y\\'ry: .,'..lr,,„.,tr, /...„,. I/,., .-/.:•

THE F.X£CLTIO.V. 379

ter mining, as he said, " that Jack Ketch should
have no coat of his."

While he stood on the edge of the steps, at
the door of the gaol, he said to Davis, one of the
turnkeys, " Well, Mr. Davis, 1 am going to find
out this great secret," and then springing upon
the scaffold, exclaimed, " Good-bye ! Gentlemen.
Here goes the remains an luifortunate man."

He rushed to the platform, upon which he leaped
and bounded in the most frantic manner. Tiien
turning himself round towards Smithfield, and
facing the very coffin that was soon to receive his
mutilated body, he raised his pinioned hands, in
the best way he could, and leaning forward with
savage energy, roared out three distinct cheers to
the people, in a voice of the most frightful and
discordant hoarseness. But these unnatural yells
of desperation, which were evidently nothing but
the ravings of a disordered mind, or the tbulli-
tions of an assumed courage, struck the majority
of the vast multitude who heard them with
horror.

Turning his face towards Ludgate-hill, he bowed,
and cried out, " This is going to be the last re-
mains of James Ings," and shouted out part of the
song in vvhich the words Death or Liberty/ are in-
troduced. He laughed upon looking at the coffins,
and said, turning his back to them, ** I'll turn my
back upon death! — Is this the gallows they always
use ? Those coffins are for us, 1 supjiose."

Tidd, who stood next to him, and had the mo-
ment before been in conversation with Thistle-
wood, turned about, and said, " Don't, lugs.
There is no use in all this noise. We can die
without making a noise," Ings was silent lor a
few moments; but as the executioner approached
him with the rope, he called out, " Do it well —
pull it tight!"'

When the executioner threw the rope mmid
the beam, he said, " Clive i:ic a better tali, il.e

380 C'ATO-STREKT CONSPIIlACr.

Others won't liave fall enough." When the man
put him on the cap, Ings said, " I have got a cap
of my own; put it over this night-cap, and I'll
thank you." The executioner proceeded to do
so ; but Ings said, '' It will do when we are going
off: let me see as long as I can." He then
pushed the cap from his eyes. The others had
raised the caps from their eyes. " Here I go,
James Ings !" said he, " and let it be known that
I die an enemy to all tyrants. Ah ha ! I see a
good many of my friends are on the houses."

Again Tidd turned round to Ings, and, as it ap-
peared, at the suggestion of Thistlewood, re-
quested that he would not continue the noise.
Ings laughed and remained silent for a few minutes.

Mr. Cotton approached Tidd and Ings, but
they turned away from him. Ings smiled at his
interference, but Tidd turned round to Thistlewood
and spoke a few words, in which he seemed to com-
plain of the inclination of the Ordinary to break
in upon their last moments,

Thistlewood now said to Tidd, " We shall soon
know the last grand secret."

Brunt, who, after the departure of Ings, stood
by himself within the porch of the prison, having
no companion of his own principles to encourage
him, (as Davidson stood far away from him,) mut-
tered something about the injustice of his fate.
The persons around him repeatedly entreated
him to alter his religious creed, during the last
few moments left, and to believe in the Sa-
viour of the world. Still immutable — still har-
dened in iniquity — he listened not to the remon-
strances of sincere friends, who besought him.
for his wife's sake, and for the sake of his son, to
ask the protection of the Redeemer for them ; but
he appeared tired of these friendly importunities,
and wished to ascend the seatibld next.

Davidson, h<nv(^ver, w as summon(Mi before him,
;ni(l -vitii a (;o!n[M)S(;(l countenance and a iirin

TIIF, EXECUTION. 381

step he passed by his former companion in guilt
to his fate, without noticing him.

Brunt now appeared considerably irritated.
" What," he exclaimed, " am I to be the last?
Why is this ? They can have my blood but once,
and why am I to be kept to the last ? But I sup-
pose they are afraid I should say something to the
people, because I spoke my mind on the trial.
However, I don't care."

Davidson walked up the platform with a firm
and steady step, but with all that respectful hu-
mility becoming the condition to which he had
reduced himself. He bowed to the crowd, and
instantly joined Mr. Cotton in prayer. He seemed
inattentive to every thing but the journey he was
about to take, and his lips moved in prayer until
he was no longer able to speak. Ho made no
request to have his eyes uncovered, but was evi-
dently preparing himself for bidding an eternal
adieu to a world of which he had ceased to be
an inhabitant.

Brunt was the last summoned to the fatal plat-
form, and he rushed upon it with impetuosity.
Some of the people cheered him, which evidently
gratified and pleased him. It brought a sort of
grin on his countenance, which remained till his
death. But his aspect " belied his utterance."
Externally he appeared to have slirunkmore from
iiis fate than any one of liis wretched companions ;
his cheeks had sunk extremely, giving a degree
of ghostly prominence to a forehead, cheek-bones,
and chin, naturally very much protruded, and
his C()h)ur was of a livid paleness; but the eyes
of the man sent forth from their deep recesses
ghuiccs of distressing keenness ; his lips were
firmly compressed together ; not a tear trickled
down his cheeks; there was no quaking of the
members. To use an ex[)rcssive phrase of his
speecli on recoiving- sentence, '• he went through
wjlh the business.'^ "Whcit," said he, " soldiei?!

382 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACT.

What do they do here ?, I see nothing but a
mihtary government will do for this country,
unless there are a good many such as we are. I
see a good many of my friends round about."

While the rope was being adjusted, he looked
towards St. Sepulchre's Church, and perceiving,
or affecting to perceive, some one with whom he
had been acquainted, he nodded several times,
and then made an inclination of the head towards
the coffins, as if in derision of the awful display.
His conduct was marked by the same irrational
levity to the last. When his handkerchief wasr
taken off, the stifFener fell out, and he kicked it
away, saying, *' I shan't want you any more."

His last act was to take a pinch of snuff from a
paper which he held in his hand. He stooped to
put it to his nose, and this he was only able to effect
by pushing up the night-cap which hung over
his face. He also threw off his shoes.

The executioner was now proceeding to adjust
the ropes, and to pull the caps over the faces of
the wretched men. A voice trom the crowd again
called out, ** God bless you. Thistle wood !" This-
tlewood looked towards the place from which it
issued, and slightly inclined his head. He then
said a few words in a whisper to Tidd, and
awaited his fate in silence.

Brunt refused altogether to speak with Mr.
Cotton upon the' subject of the next world,
and declared that he had done all he thought
necessary for the place to which he was going.
He appeared disposed to address the crowd, but
they w ere at too great a distance, and the execu-
tioner was quick at his work.

The cap was first drawn over the face of This-
tlewood, and his cravat was bound over his eyes.
He stooped gently while the man tied it, and
appeared to direct him as to the way in which he
wished it done.

THE EXF.CLTIOX. 3S3

When the executioner came to Inga, the un-
happy man said, " Now, old gentleman, finish me
tidily. Tie the handkerchief tight over my eyes.
Pull the rope tighter ; it may slip."

When the handkerchief was tied over his eyes,
he cried out, " I hope, Mr. Cotton, you will give
me a good character !'' and commenced swinging
about in his hand an old night-cap in the most
careless manner.

Tidd's lips were in motion just before he was
turned off, as if in prayer. Davidson was in tlie
most fervent prayer, and seemed to feel his situa-
tion with a becoming spirit. lie firmly pressed
the hand of the Rev. Mr. Cotton.

The executioner having completed the details
of his awful duty, by placing the criminals in a
proper situation upon the trap-door, walked down
the ladder, and left Mr. Cotton alone upon the
scaffold. The Reverend Gentleman standing
closer to Davidson than to any of the rest, began
to read those awful sentences which have sounded
last in the ears of so many unhappy men. Sud-
denly the platform fell, and the agonies of death
were exhibited to the view of the crowd in their
most terrific form.

Thistlewood struggled slightly for a few mi-
nutes, but each effort was more faint than that
which preceded ; and the body soon turned round
slowly, as if upon the motion of the hand of
death.

Tidd, whose size gave cause to suppose that
he would *' pass" with little comparative pain,
scarcely moved after the fall. The struggles of
Ings were great. The assistants of the execu-
tioner pulled his legs with all their might; and
even then the reluctance of the soul to part from
its native seat was to be observed in the vehement
efforts of every part of the body. Davidson, after
three or four heaves, became motionless ; but
Brunt suffered extremely, and considerable ex-

384 CATO-STREF.T COXSPIRACY,

ertions were made by the executioners and others
to shorten his agonies, by pulling and hanging-
upon his legs. However, in the course of five
minutes all was still.

THE DECAPITATION.

Exactly half an hour after they had been turned
off, the order was given to cut the bodies down.
The executioner immediately ascended the scaf-
fold, and drew the legs of the sufferers up, and
placed the dead men, who were still suspended,
in a sitting position, with their feet towards Lud-
gate-hill. This being done, the trap-door was
again put up, and the platform restored to its ori-
ginal state. The executioner proceeded to cut
Thistlewood down ; and, with the aid of an
assistant, lifted the body into the first coftin,
laying it on the back, and placing the head over
the end of the coffin, so as to bring the neck on
the edge of the block. The rope was then drawn
from the neck, and the cap was removed from the
face.

The last convulsions of expiring life had thrown
a purple hue over the countenance, which gave it
a most ghastly and appalling appearance ; but no
violent distortion of feature had taken place. An
axe was placed on the scaffold, but this was not
used.

When the rope had been removed, and the coat
and waistcoat forced down, so as to leave the neck
exposed, a person wearing a black mask, which
extended to his mouth, over which a coloured
handkerchief was tied, and his hat slouched down,
so as to conceal part of the mask, and attired in a
blue jacket and dark-grey trowsers, mounted the
scaffold with a small knife in his hand, similar to
what is used by surgeons in amputation, and, ad-

TlIK 1': ,\ K (' I'l'l O.^ OK'riiK (' ATO ^.-I'KKK/l' (' O ,^\S (M F^.Vl'O K^^ ."■lil v i, uivi

THE DECAPITATION. " 385

vancing to the coffin, proceeded to sever the head
from the body.

When the crowd perceived the knife applied to
the throat of Thistlewood, they raised a shout, in
which exclamations of horror and of reproach
were mingled. The tumult seemed to disconcert
the person in the mask for the moment ; but, upon
the whole, he performed the operation with dex-
terity; and, having handed the head to the
assistant executioner, who waited to receive it,
he immediately retired, pursued by the hootings
of the mob.

The assistant executioner, holding the head by
the hair over the forehead, exhibited it from
the side of the scaffold nearest Newgate-street.
A person attended on the scaffold, who dic-
tated to the executioner what he was to say;
and he exclaimed with a loud voice — " This is
the head of Arthur Thistlewood, the traitor !" A
thrilling sensation was produced on the specta-
tors by the display of this ghastly object, and the
hissings and hootings of part of the mob were
vehemently renewed.

The same ceremony was repeated hi front of
the scaffold, and on the side nearest Ludgate-
street. The head was then placed at the foot of
the coffin ; while the body, before lifted up to
bring the neck on the block, was forced lower
down, and, this done, the head was again put in
its proper place, at the upper end of the coffin,
which was left open.

The block v/as then moved by the hangman,
and placed at the head of the second coffin. The
cap and rope were removed from the face and
ncckofTidd. The same livid hue which over-
sjuxad tlic countenance of Thistlewood was per-
ce})tible.

The coat and waistcoat being pulled down, the
masked executioner again came forward. Ho
was received with groans, and cries of " bhoot

3 V

386 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

that murderer ;" ** Bring out Edwards," ^c.

He seemed less disconcerted than at first, and
performed the operation with great expedition,
and, having handed the head to the person who had
before received that of Thistlewood, he retired
amidst yells and execrations.

The assistant executioner then advanced to the
side of the scaffold, from which the former head
was first exhibited, holding the head between
both hands by the cheeks, the forehead of Tidd
being bald, and exclaiming, " This is the head
of Richard Tidd, the traitor." The same words
were also repeated from the other two sides of
the scaffold, and the head was then deposited with
the body in the second coffin.

The block was now removed to the third coffin,
and the body of Ings, being cut down, was placed
in it with the face upwards. The person in the
mask again came forward, severed the head from
the body, and retired amidst the hootings of the
crowd. The assistant-executioner proceeded to
exhibit the head, holding it up by the hair in the
same way as he had Thistlewood's, from the three
sides of the scaffold, exclaiming, ** This is the head
of James Ings, the traitor." The head was then
placed in the coffin.

The block being removed to the fourth coffin,
the body of Davidson was taken down from the
gallows, the noose taken from about the neck,
and the cap removed from the face, which re-
mained in death exactly what it had been while
living. The mouth was a little open, but no
expression of agony, or change of colour, could
be remarked. The body was placed in the fourth
coffin, and the man in the mask having performed
his part, the head was exhibited in the same way
as the last, with the exclamation, " This is the
head of William Davidson, the traitor."

Little or no blood had fallen from the other
heads, but from this it fell profusely. The hisses

THE DECAriTATION. 387

and groans of the crowd were repeated on this
occasion, while the head was deposited in the
coffin which contained the suftercr's body.

The executioner and his assistant now pro-
ceeded to cut down the last of the sufferers.
Brunt. The block was placed at the head of the
fifth coffin. The blood which had stained the
block was wiped off with the saw-dust, and, the
rope being cut, they attempted to lift the body to
the place where the last part of the sentence was
to be executed, when it was found that in putting
up the platform part of his clothing had been shut
in with it, and held him so tight, that a consider-
able effort was necessary to disengage the remains
of the wretched culprit. He was placed in the
fifth coffin.

His miserable and cadaverous countenance pre-
sented but a ghastly spectacle while he was alive ;
but dead, its aspect was little less than terrific ;
and the dark hair which overhung his forehead
came in frightful contrast with the purple hue
produced by the agonies of death.

The masked executioner, while performing his
duty, happened to let the head fall from his hands
on the saw-bust. The bowlings and groans of the
spectators were again heard at that moment, and
amidst these the operator retired, having first
handed the discoloured " trunkless ball" to the
assistant executioner, who advancing, as in each
of the other cases, first tQ the side of the scaffold
nearest Giltspur-street, then to the front, and lastly
to the side looking towards the Felon s'-door, pro-
claimed aloud, " This is the head of John Tho-
mas Brunt, the traitor.'' His head was then
placed in the coffin, and thus terminated this part
of the awful business of that memorable day.

The execution occupied an hour and eight
minutes. It was a cpiartcr before eight when
Thistlcvvood walked up the steps leading to the

3 D 2

388 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

fatal platform; and it wanted seven minutes to
nine when the head of Brunt was placed in the
coffin.

From the manner in which the last part of the
execution was performed very little blood was
seen on the scaffold. The bodies being placed
almost in a sitting attitude in their coffins, the
blood could not flow copiously from them at the
moment the heads were taken oif. It was not
till they were laid in a horizontal position that the
vital stream could escape freely from the heart.

The person who wore the mask, and who per-
formed the ceremony of decapitation, is said to be
the same person who beheaded Despard and his
associates. This, however, may be doubted, as,
from the quickness and spring of his motions, he
seemed to be a young man. His mode of opera-
tion showed evidently that he was a surgeon. In
performing his dreadful duty, the edge of the first
knife was turned by the vertebrae of Thistlewood,
and two others became necessary to enable him
to finish his heart-appalhng task.

The coffins containing the remains of the suf-
ferers were left on the scaffold but for a few
minutes after the sentence of the law had been
carried into effect. While there they continued
open. At nine o'clock they were conveyed into
the prison by the Debtors'-door, and this dread-
ful scene being thus ended, the crowd began peace-
ably to separate.

In such an immense assemblage, as might be
expected, some accidents occurred through the
dreadful pressure of the crowd. Some women
(and it is painful to record tliat many women were
among the crowd) were brought out fainting, and
a boy was severely hurt by the filling of a part of
the railing in front of St. Sepulchre's church. The
persons whose v^eight brought down the railing
from the stone base in which it was planted, were

MILITARY ARRANGEMENTS. 389

thrown on the shoulders of those beneath them,
and caused great confusion at the moment, but
no more serious accidents occurred than the
injury received by the boy above-mentioned.

In addition to the military arrangements on this
awful occasion, which we have incidentally men-
tioned, it was thought necessary to adopt the fol-
lowing precautionary measures, that should any
thing like a breach of the peace be attempted, it
might be crushed in its infancy ; and it is a pleas-
ing part of our duty here to record the prudence
which gave rise to these measures, the very ex-
cellent and effectual manner in which they were
carried into execution, and, above all, the exem-
plary conduct of the soldiers who were on duty
throughout the morning, although they were at
limes severely, and indeed unavoidably pressed
upon by the crowd. The Life Guards were inces-
santly attentive to prevent their horses from
doing any injury, while occasionally driven out of
their position by the momentary agitation of the
persons immediately near them.

At a very early hour, the neighbourhood of
Blackfriars-bridge, being the place appointed for
the rendezvous of a considerablt number of troops,
presented a very novel spectacle. At five o'clock
in the morning, six light field-pieces of flying
artillery arrived in front of the livery stables,
near Christ Church, escorted by the usual com-
plement of men. They drew up in the centre of
the street, and remained there until after the exe-
cution took place.

At a still earlier hour, three troops of the Life
Guards arrived in the neighbourhood of Newgate ;
one troop and a picquet remained near the scaf-
fold ; another picquet was stationed in Ludgate-
liill, lacing the Old Bailey; and the remaining troop
drew up in Bridge-street.

The moment the prisoners were about to be

390 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

brought out to the scaffold, an officer rode from
his station in front of Newgate, communicated
with the picquet on Ludgate-hill, and then rode on
to the troop in Bridge-street, to whom he imme-
diately gave the word of command to advance.
The troop instantly followed the officer, and pro-
ceeded onwards until they joined the picquet on
Ludgate-hill, with which they halted, and formed
in a line, still facing the Old Bailey.

The flying artillery, near Christ Church, also
made a movement in advance just at the same
time, and formed a crescent across the road ; the
guns pointing towards the bridge.

The City Light Horse were under arms, in their
barracks in Gray*s-Inn-lane, and a number of
troops were stationed at various depots, assigned
them at convenient intervals throughout the
metropolis.

A little before ten, the multitude having com-
pletely dispersed, the detachments marched off to
their respective barracks.

DISPOSAL OF THE BODIES.

On the day of execution the friends of tiie
families of the unfortunate men who were executed
met at a public-house, and after some discussion
upon the subject of raising a subscription for the
wives and children of those who were transported,
as well as of those who were hanged, adopted a
resolution to apply through Lord Sidmouth for
leave to take away the bodies of the deceased
from Newgate.

The following petition was accordingly drawn
up, in the names of the widows of the wretched
criminals, and forwarded to Lord Sidmouth, to
be by him delivered to his majesty :

DISPOSAL OF THE BODIES. 391

To His Most Gracious Majeity the King.

■ "Sire,

" The Petition of Susan Tliistlewood, Mary Tidd,
Mary Brunt, Celia Ings, and Sarah Davidson, humbly
shevveth, That your Petitioners are the widows of the unfor-
tunate men who this morning sufl'ered tlie dreadful sentence
of the law at the Old Bailey.

" Your petitioners most earnestly entreat your Majesty
to grant them one consolation, by restoring to them the
mangled remains of their late unfortunate husbands, that
they, your petitioners, may shed a silent tear over their mu-
tilated remains, ere they are consigned to the tomb.

" We are confident that all desire of further vengeance
has ceased, and that your Majesty will be graciously pleased
to order the restoration of the bodies to your humble Peti-
tioners, that they may have them decently interred ; and
your Petitioners will, as in duty bound, for ever pray, 8^x.

(Signed)

" SUSAN THISTLEWOOD,

'' MARY TIDD,

" MARY BRUNT,

" CELL\ INGS,

" SARAH DAVIDSON."

The petition was accompanied by a request to
his Lordship that the bodies might be given up to
the friends of the deceased, and stating, that the
object was the humane one of raising the means
of support for the wives and children by a public
exhibition.

It is almost unnecessary to state that Lord
Sidmouth did not hesitate to refuse the request, a
compliance with which would be attended with
great inconvenience at least. His lordship stated,
in the mildest terms, the impossibility of granting
it, contrary as such compliance would be to esta-
blished usage.

At a late hour in the evening, the wives of the
executed men were informed by the keeper of

392 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

Newgate, that the bodies of their husbands were
buried.

In the course of the afternoon a channel had
been dug alongside of the subterraneous passage
that leads to the cells, and, about seven in the
evening, after the coffins had been filled with
quick lime, they were strongly screwed up, placed
in a line with each other, strewed over with earth,
and finally covered with stones, and of course no
trace of their end remains for any future public
observation. On this circumstance being com-
municated to their unhappy wives, they were
entirely overcome by the poignancy of their
feelings.

On the following morning an individual petition
was forwarded to the Privy-Council on the part
of Mrs, Thistlewood, and was presented to his
Majesty, for the body of her husband. A laconic
answer was ahnost immediately returned, " That
Thistlewood was buried."

39J

Tran-bvoitation of the respited TraitovSy Discharge of
the suspected Persons, ^c.

Very early in the morning of Tuesday, the 2d
of May, the day following the execution of their
partners in crime, tive of the respited traitors,
namely, Wilson, Harrison, Cooper, Strange, and
Bradburn, were removed Irom Newgate in three
post-chaises, and conveyed under a proper escort
to Portsmouth, where they were put on board a
convict-shi|), which soon after sailed for New
South Wales.

Gilchrist was still detained in Newgate, but it
\vas expected his confinement would not be of long
duration ; the peculiar circumstances of his case
having excited a feeling of mercy towards him.

On Saturday the 6th of May, the following
persons, whose arrests on suspicion we have
previously mentioned, were placed at the bar of
the Old Bailey, previous to the adjournment of the
court, viz. Thomas Preston, William Simmons,
Abel Hall, Robert George, William Firth, and
William Hazard. The prisoners being addressed
by order of the court, and informed that, as no
prosecutors appeared against them, they were
discharged, bowed respectfully, and departed, with
the exception of Preston, who made an attempt
to address the Court, but was immediately silenced.

We have now completed, as far as the indivi-
duals arrested were concerned, our narration of
the w^hole of the proceedings relative to the
horrid conspiracy, which at one time threatened
Buch awful consequences ; but as many circum-
stances connected with the personal history of
the conspirators have been brought to light in the
course of the proceedings, which could not well
be interwoven in the history of their crimes, we.
have added in an Appendix such particulars
respecting the principal actors in this dreadful tra-
gedy, as we have been able to collect, from a

5 E

394 CATO-STUEET CONSPIRACT.^

conviction that every circumstance connected with
the lives of the ferocious criminals will be con-
sidered as interesting.

The infamous Spy and instigator, George
Edwards, has also been frequently named as
playing a very prominent part in this horrid
drama, and, independent of the disclosures of his
criminal conduct, incidentally made in the course
of the judicial proceedings against the conspirators,
the answers given by Thistlewood ta the questions
put to him by Mr. Alderman Wood, on the
morning of the fatal first of May, imparted a
certain degree of interest to every circumstance
connected with that vile character, and a feeling
of indignation, horror, and disgust, was excited in
the public mind relative to this consummate villain,
which had never been equalled but in the sensation
caused by the first discovery of the plot itself.

Consonant with these feelings were the pro-
ceedings instituted by Mr. Alderman Wood, both
in and out of Parliament, for the apprehension
and bringing to trial of this worthless wretch> on
charges of diverse acts of high treason alledged to
have been committed by him ; and although we
stop not to inquire whether the protection from
the consequences of his crimes, experienced by
this fellow, be justifiable, or otherwise, we shall
certainly be rendering an acceptable service to
society and to future generations, in tracing this
serpent through all his intricate paths of villany,
and cautioning the thoughtless and unsuspecting
from becoming the dupes of similar villains, (if
any such exist) in their intemperate moments of
political animosity.

With this view we have collected all the parti-
culars attainable of the conduct of this arch-fiend
both in public or private, as an appropriate addi-
tion to the lives of his partners in crime, and,
perhaps, in some respects, the victims of his
villany.

395

APPENDIX:

CONTAIXI NO

Brief S/cetches of the Lives of the Executed Conspira
tors, irith copies of their Letters ; an account of the
infamous Gcor2:e Edwards, the Spj/ ; the efforts
made to bring him to Justice, and the Parliamentary
Proceedings thereon ; with other particulars relating
to the Conspiracj/.

ARTHUR THISTLEWOOD.

In' page 70, of the preceding narrative, we have
briefly touched on the history of this ill-fated man,
and we now add some further particulars relating
to him.

Very early in life he manifested idle and un-
settled habits, and remained a burden on his family
until the period of his obtaining a commission in
the Militia, soon after which he married a young
lady of property ; but even that step, so promising
in the outset, was pregnant with future troubles.
Thistlewood had supposed her fortune to be at
her own disposal, but it was in fact so settled,
that she received the interest only during her
life, and the principal, at her death, reverted to
her relations. Sixteen months after their mar-
riage, she died in child-bed, and Thistlewood was
left almost without a shilling of her property.

In London he formed an acquaintance with a
number of young military ofiicers ; was introduced

3 E 2

396 CATO-»TREET CONSPIRACY.

into all the vices and dissipation of the metropohs,
and gave loose to his passion for intrigue and
gaming. On one night Ire was filched by a noto-
rious black leg, and some of his companions, at
one of the Hells, in the neighbourhood of St.
James's, of upwards of 2,000/. His money being
nearly all gone, he fled in despair. Legal pro-
ceedings were commenced to recover the amount ;
but, owing to some informality in the pleadings,
it was not recovered ; and, soon after, those who
had pigeoned him left the kingdom.

In France his evil genius still followed him ; on
one occasion, having an improper passport, he
was detained by the police, and during his deten-
tion, a circumstance occurred which produced him
a long period of confinement. He had always ex-
pressed himself a hater of oppression and injustice.
An Englishman, named Heely, was arrested for
being without a passport, and conveyed to the
same prison where Thistlewood was confined.
Upon Thistlewood and Heely receiving orders
from Paris for their liberation, Heely used some
insulting language to the officer who brought him
to prison ; the officer struck him with a cane, and
Thistlewood knocked the officer down with his
clenched fist.

In consequence of this outrage, they were
thrown into close confinement, and lay there for
several weeks before they were able to obtain
their final liberation.

Thistlewood having obtained a passport, then
went to Paris, having sufficient knowledge of the
French language to be able to converse. He
entered the French service, and was present
during the perpetration of numberless atrocities
by the French troops.

Although a man of but middling talent, he had
a considerable knowledge of military tactics ;

ARTHUIl TIHSTLEWOOU. 307

was an excellent swordsman, and always fearless
of death.

He entered a regiment of French grenadiers,
and was at the battle of Zurich, commanded by
General

After a variety of adventures in France and on
different parts of the Continent, he returned to
England, and became possessed of a considerable
estate, by the death of a relation; which he sub-
sequently sold to a gentleman at Durham for
10,000/.

He felt inclined to settle himself, and courted
Miss AVilkinson of Horncastle. The gentleman to
whom he sold his estate, instead of paying him
the money, gave him an annuity bond, agreeing to
pay him 850/. per annum for a number of lives
In eighteen months this purchaser became a bank-
rupt, and Thistlewood was again reduced, not to
want or poverty, but his finances were at a low
ebb.

Thistlewood's father and brother, both of whom
now reside and are most respectable farmers in
the neighbourhood of Horncastle, assisted him to
take a farm ; he continued to occupy it till he
found he was losing annually a considerable sum,
in consequence of the high rent and taxes, and
farming produce being very low ; he then parted
with it. He came with his present wife and son
to London, and formed an acquaintance with the
Spenceans.

The Evanses were his constant companions ; he
took young Evans to France, paying all expenses
for near twelve months ; and since his return his-
history is but too well recorded in the annals of
crime.

The son who took an affecting leave of him in
prison, is not the offspring of the first ri.arriagc,
iDut a natural child of Thistlewood's, whom his
second wife (the present widow) took under her
care sliortly after her marriage, and to wiunn s!i<

398 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

has shown great kindness. By the widow he had
no issue.

The following lines are said to have been written
by him while under sentence of death in New-
gate :—

Oh what a twine of mischief is a Statesman !
Ye furies ! whirlwinds ! and ye treach'rous rocks !
Ye ministers of death ! devouring fires !
Convulsive earthquakes ! and plague-tainted air!
Ye are all mild and merciful to hiin ! !

RICHARD TIDD

Was born at Grantham, in Lincolnshire, tii^
age at the time of his execution was forty-five.
He was apprenticed to Mr. Cante, of Grantham,
but quitted his situation at sixteen years of age.
He then went to Nottingham, where he lived two
years and a half ; from thence he came to London,
where he resided several years. He thought it
prudent to retreat into Scotland in 1803, and he
stopped there for five years.

This flight was made in consequence of his
having voted for Sir Francis Burdett, at the
Middlesex election, when the Honourable Baronet
was opposed by Mr. Mainwaring. Tidd swore
that he was a freeholder — the fact being other-
wise, and fled to avoid prosecution for perjury.
A reward of 100/. was offered for his appre-
hension.

On his return from the north, he went to live
at Rochester, and for nine years worked at his
trade of shoemaker in that town. He was en-
gaged in the conspiracy for which Colonel
Despard suffered; but a temporary absence
from town preserved him from sharing the same
fate.

RICHARD TIDD. ] 399

His last stay in town commenced on the 10th
of March, 1818. From that time he attended all
Mr. Hunt's meetings, pubHc and private, and was
present at all the subsequent Radical meetings.
He was introduced to Edwards by Brunt, at his
own residence, Hole-in-the-Wall Passage, Bald-
win's-gardens. Edwards's assumed violence suit-
ed his disposition, and he eagerly closed with
every proposition, however desperate.

It was a most extraordinary circumstance that
he had constantly an impression on his mind, for
the last twenty years, that he was to be hanged.
He frequently expressed to his wife that he
should die on the gallows, who felt distressed at
his entertaining such an idea, but he would still
persist that such would be his fate. He was un-
happily too good a prophet, and thus a life of
irregularity terminated in the most ignoniinous
manner.

Mrs. Tidd is a very decent woman ; Tidd
has left a brother and one daughter to deplore his
late.

Tidd, during the war, enlisted into more than
half of the regiments under the crown, and re-
ceived the different bounties. It is astonishing
how he escaped detection ; he was always in
disgui.se when he enlisted, and, as soon as he had
obtained the bounty, he deserted. When he
had spent the money, he enlisted into another
regiment.

It will be evident from this account, that the
statements of his uniform good character and
conduct published at the period of his first
arrest, for the crime of which he was ultimately
found guilty on an impartial trial by a Jury of
his countrymen, were put forth by some zealous
friend to produce a fiivourable impression on the
public mind in his behalf.

400 CATO-ISTREET CONSPIHACY

JAMES INGS

Was a native of Hampshire. His relations were
respectable tradesmen. He has left a wife and
four children. Ings was a butcher at Portsmouth,
and at the time of his marriage had a handsome
property, consisting of several houses, and some
money in the funds.

Trade growing bad at the termination of the
war, and his property having decreased, some of
his tenements were sold, and he came up to
London about eighteen months ago, with a little
ready money, produced by the sale of a house,
and opened a butcher's-shop at the west-end of
the town. He could, however, get no business^
and in a few months gave up the shop, and, with
a few pounds he had left, he opened a coffee-shop
in Whitechapel.

Business becoming dull there, he was involved
in great distress, and at last was compelled to
pawn his watch to enable him to send his wife
and children down to Portsmouth to her friends,
to prevent their starving in London.

At the coffee-house in Whitechapel he sold, be-
sides coffee, political pamphlets, with which he
was supplied by Garble, of Fleet-street. Having
given up the shop, and finding that there was
no prospect of supporting himself and his fa-
mily with credit, he gave himself up to despair.
He had read the diflerent Deistical publications
during the time he sold political pamphlets, and,
from being a churchman, he became a confirmed
Deist.

He was a most affectionate husband and father;
and his desperate situation, no doubt, was a prin-
cipal cause of his joining the Gato-street plot.

Edwards, Adams, Thistlev/ood, and Brunt, had
frequently visited Ings during the time he kept

JAMES IVGS. 401

ilie colt'ce and polilical-paniphlct shop, and when
he was in more desperate circumstances, he be-
came a fitter companion for persons engaged in
such an atrocious crime as the one for which he
suffered the sentence of the law.

For some weeks before the Cato-street disco-
very, Ings was ill the utmost distress, c^uite penny-
less, and the money he was supplied with to sub-
sist upon was given him by George Edwards.
Ings was also supplied with money by the same
person to take an apartment, where arms and am-
munition could be safely placed. lie took a room
m the house where Brunt lodged, and thither the
greater part of the ammunition and arms was
conveyed by Edwards, Adams, and himself; in-
deed, it was the depot of the conspirators.

The following Letters were written by Ings in
Newgate, the night before his execution :

TO HIS WIFE.

" My dear Celia, — I hardly know how to begin,
or what to say, for the lawsof tyrants have parted
us for ever. My dear, this is the last time you
will ever hear from me. 1 hope you will perform
your duty without delay, which is for the benefit
of yourself and children, which 1 have explained
to you before. My dear, of the anxiety and regard
I have fo)' you and the children, 1 know not how
to explain myself; but I must die according to
law, and leave you in a land full of corruption,
where justice and liberty has taken their flight
from, to other distant shores. My dear, I have
heard men remark that they would not marry a
w4dow, not without her husband was hanged.
Now, ir.y dear, I hope you will bear in mind that
the cause of my being consigned to the scaftbid was
a pure motive.

3 I-

402 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY,

'' t thought I should have rendered my starvmg
fellow-men, women, and children a service ; and
my wish is, when you make another choice, that this
question you will put before you tie the fatal knot
My dear, it is of no use for me to make remarks
respecting my children. I am convinced you
will do your duty as far as lies in your power.
My dear, your leaving me but a few hours before
1 wrote these few lines, I have nothing more to
say. Farewell ! farewell, my dear wife and chil-
dren, for ever ! Give my love to your mother and
Elizabeth. I conclude a constant lover to you and
your children, and all friends. I die the same,
but an enemy to all tyrants.

" James Ings,"

" PS. My dear wife, give my love to my father
and mother, brother and sisters, and aunt Mary,
and beg of them to think nothing of my unfortu-
nate fate; for I am gone out of a very troublesome
world, and I hope you will let it pass like a
summer cloud over the earth/

'' Newgate, 4 o'clock, Sunday afternoon,
April 30, 1820."

TO HIS DAUGHTERS.

" To my dear daughters. — My dear little girls,
receive my kind love and aifection, once more, for
ever ; and adhere to these my sincere wishes, and
recollect though in a short time you will hear no-
thing more of your father, let me entreat you to
be loving, kind, and obedient, to your poor mother,
and strive all in your powers to comfort her, and
assist her whilst you exist in this transitory world,
and let your conduct throughout life be that of
virtue, honesty, and industry; and endeavour to
avoid all temptation, and at the same time put
your trust ni God. I hope unity, peace, and con-

.iAMr« iNG?. 403

cord, will remain amongst you ali. Farewell !
I'arewel!, my dear children I Your unfortunate
father,

" James Ings."

'■ To Will. Storu- Iiigs.
and liis Sistcis,"

ro HIS SOX.

" My little dear boy, W'm. Stone Ings, I liO[)e
you will live to read these few lines when the
remains of yr, poor lather is mouldered to dust.
My dr. boy, I hope you will bear in mind the
unfortunate end of your fathei', and not place any
conhdence m any })erson or persons whatever ;
tor the deception, tlic corru|)tion, and the ingc-
juiity in rnan 1 am at a loss io comprehend : it is
beyond all calculation. ]\Jy dear boy, I hope you
will make a bright man in society ; and, it appears
to me, the road you ough.t to pursue is, to be
honest, sober, industrious, and upright, in all your
dealings ; and to do unto all men as you would
they should do unto vou. My dear boy, put your
trust in one Ciod; and be cautious of e\ery shrewd,
designing, Hattering tongue. My dear boy, be a
good, kind, and obedient child to your ])Our
mother, and comfort her, and be a loving lirothei
to your sisters. Mv th-ar boy, { sincerely hope
and trust you will regard these my last instruc-
tions. Yr. loving and unforte. father,

" Ja.aiks In(,s."

"■ N^wji-ato, Sumlav Niuht. S o'ciock,
April ;i()," IS-JO."

The following- petition to the King \\ as written
by Ings, the day pre\ious to his execution, it con-
tains a repetition of some of the facts urged by
him m his defence, but oi touise produced no
eti'ect m his taxour.

404 CATO-STKEET CONSPIRACY

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF JAMES INGS,
TO THE KING.

I was born near Waltham, in Hampshire, but I
have lived ever since I was about fifteen years of
age at Portsea, and every one that knows me knew
no harm of me ; and the masters that I have lived
with sent me a character for me to give to the
Jury, but the Jury never saw the character.

I married a girl that I loved, and she had a
little property, and I continued working till I
could get nothing to do, and I went into business,
and it turned out very unfortunately, and I lost a
great deal of money, not through drinking and
gambling, for I never went to a public-house in
my life but to smoke my pipe, or for the sake of
company. I can assure your most gracious Ma-
jesty, that I never was tipsey but three times in
my life, and that was not through the love of liquor.
The times being so very bad at Portsea, and
I had nothing to do, me and my wife made
up our minds to come to London: me and my
family left Portsea the beginning of May 1819.
I thought when I came to town I should get a
situation, but to my sad disappointment I soon
found all my hopes was blasted, I tried every
means I was master of to get employ for the sup-
port my family : I did not know how to act, for
it was not my intention when I came to town to
enter into business, I had a little money by me,
for me and my wife mortgaged her property —
a house I mean — to the full value of it, if it was
to be sold now.

I went and took a batcher's shop in Baker's-
row, Whitechapel-road, and I carried on business
from Midsumm.er to Michaelmas. When 1 came
to look over my little stock of money, I found it
was very much reduced, and the summer being
so very hot, was wrv much ;vjainst me ; nrid after

PETITION OF INGS. -105

1 had paid my rent, and a few little bills beside,
my money was nearly all gone.

I left Baker's-row at Michaelmas, and I took
a house in Old Montague-street, Brick-lai>e, and I
fitted it up for a coffee-house, and then my money-
was gone. It did not turn out to my expectation,
for I did not take money enough, if it had been
all profit, to keep my family. I persuaded my
wife to return to Portsea with the children : the
reason was, I thought she had better be among
her friends without money than in London.

I remained in the house a short time after my
wife had left me : there was a man used to come
frequently and take a cup of coffee, and he used
to enter into conversation about the Manchester
massacre, and Government, ^c. I did not make
but very little reply, for I took him to be some
officer.

After I had left my house, I met him in Smith-
ficld-market ; he said 1 have caught you out, I shall
make you stand treat. I am sorry it is not in my
power, for I am very short at present ; if I do not
get some work very shortly, 1 must sell my few
things. What have you to sell ? A sofa-bedstead
— it is the best piece of furniture I have. I should
like to see it ; if I like it I will buy it, and give
you as much as any person will. I took him to
my lodging, No. 20, Primrose-street, Bishopsgate,
and shewed him my sofa, but it did not suit him,
and he took me to a friend of his, a broker, to buy
my sofa, but it did not suit him, and we parted
early in January.

I met him in Fleet-market, and he asked me
how I did ? 1 told him I was very low in spirits :
come, he says, have a glass of gin — that will rise
your spirits. jVo, I thank you, I never drink so
soon in the morning. Wc walked uj) Fleet-street,
and wo went and bought the very sword that was
])ro(luccd in the Courl, [ind I took it to the cutler's,
and 1 left my nan;e.

406 CATO-STREET CONSriRACT,

If I had known at that time what was going to
be done, I am sure I should not Iiave left my
name. He took me to the White Hart, and gave
me beef-steaks, S'C. for my dinner, and I thought
fie was the best friend I had, for he used to give
me victuals and drink when I was very short ;
and this was Edwards that introduced me to tjie
party, which I never should have known if it had
not been for him.

There have been a great deal more said about
me in the Court than is true, but it is of no use
for me to try to contradict what has been said. I
never was at a political meeting in my life not
before this time, and I can assure you it was
through Edwards, and the anxiety for my wife and
family, which brought me to this sad unfortunate
situation. 1 can assure your most high and mighty
and gracious Sovereign, that I have been a true
and faithful subject till now, but being in distress,
and hearing the language I did, when irritated,
took advantage of my distressed situation.

I know not w^hat to say or how to address a
King, but I hope your most gracious Majesty will
spare my life — life for the sake of family — for
1 was not the inventor of this plot.

1 shall in future, if your most gracious Majesty
spare my life, be a true and faithful subject.

James Ings.

WILLIAM DAVIDSON

Was born in the year 178(5, at Kingston, in
Jamaica. His father was Mr. Attorney-General
Davidson, a man of considerable legal knowledge
and talent. He had several children.

Williiuu, his second son, was sent to Enghuid
wljcn very young, for the purpose of receiving an
education suitable to the rank of his lather, and

niLi.iAM n.wiDSOM. 407

his own propccts. His mother was a native of
the West-Indies, a woman of colour : she opposed
her son being sent to England ; but her husband
was resolved : he wished William to be brought
up to his own profession — the law. William was
therefore sent to Edinburgh to be educated.

Having learned the first rudiments of education,
he was sent to the academy of Dr. — , where
he studied mathematics. Having left school, he
went to his father's agent, a friend who resided
near Liverpool.

After some time he was apprenticed to a res-
pectable attorney at Liverpool, at whose office
he remained near three years, when he became
tired of confinement. He had for some time felt
great inclination to go to sea, and the captain of
a vessel, to whom he disclosed his wishes upon
the subject, promised to take him out as his
clerk on his next voyage.

Without taking leave of the gentleman to whom
he was articled, he entered on board the mer-
chant vessel, and soon had cause to repent, for
after the vessel had left the port, he was com-
pelled by the captain to perform duty.

On the voyage a king's ship stopped the vessel,
and impressed Davidson and many of the crew.
He arrived in England about six niontlis after-
wards, and wrote to his father's friend a suppli-
catory letter. His lathers friend sent for him,
and at his own particular desire, apprenticed him
to a cabinet-maker, in Liverpool.

Davidson was a personable yomig man, and
was upon the ])oint of marriage to the daughter of
a respectable tradesman at Liverpool ; but her
friends sent her off, and ])rcventcd the match
taking place. Davidson being somewhat disap-
pointed, determined to leave England, and to visit
his relatives at Kington, in Jamaica.

He took a passage on board of a West Lidia
merchantman, and on his voyage again ex[)e-

40h CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY

rienced the misfortune of being impressed mto
the King's service. He took the first opportu-
nity of running away from the vessel on its arri-
val in port, and having obtained some money
from his friends, he got work at his trade as a
journeyman.

About twelve months after, his mother allowed
him two guineas per week, which was paid him
regularly through her agent. Davidson was
employed by Mr. Bullock, a cabinet-maker at
Litchfield. He was a most excellent w^orkman,
and was able to get three or four guineas a week,
being a man of considerable taste in his profes-
sion, and chiefly employed in fitting up the
houses of noblemen and gentlemen in the neigh-
bourhood.

With his mother's allowance he was able to live
and dress very genteelly ; and the company he
kept was highly respectable. By some accident
he met a young lady of the name of Salt, who
resided at Litchfield ; she was only sixteen years
of age. She imbibed a strong regard for Davidson,
and, unknown to her family, she allowed him to
visit her. Miss Salt had at her own disposal,
when of age, the sum of 7,000/. She communi-
cated to her mother her passion for Davidson.
Her mother objected to it; but finding that
nothing could wean her from her attachment,
she consented to allow Davidson to visit her
daughter.

He frequently paid visits unknown to the young
lady's father : the latter, however, at length ob-
tained information of these clandestine interviews,
and laid wait for him ; and, as he entered the
garden late one evening, he fired a pistol at his
head, and the ball it contained passed througli
Davidson's hat. A constable was sent for, and
Davidson was taken before a magistrate, charged
with attempting to commit a robbery ; but
upon Davidson stating the sim})le facts of

WILLIAM DAVIDSO?^. 409

the case, precisely as it occurred, that he was
courting the daughter, with the privity of Mrs.
Salt, though against the desire of Mr. Salt, he
immediately set Davidson at liberty, and com-
mitted Mr. Salt to prison for shooting at him.

While Mr. Salt was in prison, he sent for
Davidson, and promised him his daughter, if he
would not prosecute him. Davidson did not
appear against him, and he was set at liberty.

Mr. Salt afterwards repented of his promise,
and, to evade the pledge he had given, he told
Davidson that he would not object if he would
only wait till she was of age. Davidson com-
municated to Miss Salt the wish of her father.
She replied, " You know my sentiments towards
you now. I cannot say, if I remain single till I
am of age, what they may be then ;" and ex-
pressed herself angry that Davidson should be
inclined to agree to her father's proposal for de-
ferring their union. Davidson had previously
written to Jamaica, to his mother, and informed
her of his intended union, and she had remitted
1200/. to a banking house in London, and placed
it at his disposal.

Miss Salt was sent by her father to see a re-
lative in a distant part of the country, and before
she had been many months there, she married
another suitor.

Davidson, who had entertained very great
affection for the lady, upon hearing that she had
broken her faith with him, went to a chemist's
shop at Litchfield, and in a fit of despair, pur-
chased some poison, and took it ; he had not
swallowed it long before he communicated to a
friend the rash act he had committed, when the
latter immediately procured a powerful antidote,
which Davidson took, and which destroyed the
effect of the poison in a great degree, though he
was unwell for a considerable time after. ^V iien

3 G

410 CATO-STREEl CONSPIRACY.

lie recovered, he left the place, and took a large
house near Birmmgham.

With the money his mother had sent him he
entered into an extensive way of business ; but
being, from the disappointment in his marriage
with Miss Salt, rendered quite unsettled in his
mind, he did not attend to his business, and in
a short time the whole of his money was ex-
pended.

Previous to his acquaintance with Miss Salt,
he was employed by Lord Harrowby to fit up his
house, and had frequent conversations with the
Noble Lord upon the plan of decorating the in-
terior of the mansion.

After Davidson's failure in business, near Bir-
mingham, he came to London, and was employed
as a journeyman by Mr. Cox, a cabinet-maker, in
the Haymarket, to whom he had been strongly
recommended, by some gentlemen forming part of
the congregation of a Chapel at Walworth, which
Davidson frequented, and where he also made
himself active as a teacher to the Sunday-school
attached to the Chapel. It w^as during the period
of his service with Mr. Cox, that the circumstance
happened alluded to by Davidson on his trial,
of an indelicate attack on the person of one of
the female teachers at the school ; but we are
compelled to state, that his account of the affair
is directly the reverse of the truth. The fact
was, that he habitually indulged in attempts of a
gross and indelicate nature on the persons, not
only of the teachers, but even of the children of
the school ; way-laying them on their return
home, particularly in the evening after their
attendance on divine worship, and taking im-
proper liberties with them. The outward sanctity
of the man screened him from suspicion, and the
indelicate nature of his attacks silenced for too
long a period the virtuous and innocent females.

WILLIAM DAVIDSON'. 411

who were the objects of his vile attempts ; but
at length his conduct became too gross for en-
durance, and one of the ladies communicated it
to the committee. This led to enquiry, and the
result was the most perfect unmasking of the
hypocrite, who was expelled with contempt and
indignation from that society and religious com-
munity, which he had so long disgraced by
making it the means of indulging his brutal pro-
pensities.

After this detection and exposure, his conduct
was more narrowly observed, and his habitual
lying, prevarication, and intrigue, became noto-
rious. Indeed he seemed to delight in evasion,
and scarcely ever spoke the plain truth.

About four years ago he entered into business
for himself at Walworth, and then married a Mrs.
Lane, the widow of a respectable man, who had
left her with four small children ; for a short time
he appeared to be doing well. At length trade
fell off, and he was obliged to remove to London.
He then took a lodging in Mary-le-bone.

lie had known Harrison (one of the transported
conspirators) for several years previous to his
coming to Walworth, and by him he was intro-
duced to Thistlcwood, and by the latter to Ed-
wards, the spy.

Edwards frequently called upon Davidson at
his lodgings during the getting u[) of the Cato-
street plot, and was, for several weeks before, his
and Thistlewood's constant companion. Edwards
breakfasted with Davidson on the morning before
the Cato-street plot was discovered; and on the
same evening, in tlie presence of Mrs. Davidson,
gave him money to get a blunderbuss out of
])av,'n.

On the Sunday night, when Davidson parted,
for the last tmie, with his distressed wife, he
expressed himself very strongly against Lord
JSidmouth.

3o 2

412 CATO-STREET CONSPJIIACY,

After he had kissed her, he said, " If I should
betray a weakness when I come out on the scaf-
fold, I hope the world will not attribute it to
cowardice, but to my intense feelings for you and
my dear children. Farewell, love ! pray that
God will take mercy on me, and receive my soul."
Mrs. Davidson then left him.

This unfortunate woman is left with six chil-
dren ; four by her former husband, and two
fine boys by Davidson, both under four years of
age.

The following letter was written by Davidson
to his wife, enclosing the notice served upon him
by the solicitor for the prosecution, that the in-
dictment for high treason had been found by the
Grand Jury.

" My dear Sarah, — According to the promise
your entreaties caused me to make to you con-
cerning matters of counsel, ^c.

I have sent you here the order I received last night
— an order for application to either of the several
justices therein mentioned, whereby an order will
be granted to the applicant for the free admission of
counsel, solicitors, ^c. But I would rather, for
my part, use such an order for you and my dear
children, in preference to counsel, S^c; and would
now retain my integrity of not having any, only as
it is the first time you ever ask the favour of being
dictator, and as in such considerations I did grant
you that request, I will not now fall from such a
promise, to one whose sole interest and young
family entirely depends on the result of this
trial. Therefore, you can be advised how you are
to act ; for my own part, I am careless about it,
as T am determined to maintain my integrity as a
man against all the swarms of false witnesses,

WILLIAM DAVIDSOV. 413

and I hope you will never be persuaded, or suffer
the public to be led away with a belief, that I am
tallcn irom that spirit maintained from my vouth
up, and had so long been in possession oY the
ancient name of Davidson (Aberdeen's boast) and
IS now become feeble. Death's countenance is
familiar to me. I have had him m view fifteen
times, and surely he cannot now be terrible Keen
up that noble spirit for the sake of your children
and depend that, even in death, it\vill be main-
tained, by your ever affectionate husband,

"M < .n •, ''^^''- Davidson.-'

Mrs. Sarah Davidson,
' "'" Marv-le-bonc.

The following is a copy of the letter, which he
wrote to Lord Ilarrowby, referred to in page 357,
it is evidently a rank falsehood, written in the
hope, perhaps, of obtaining a respite :

" My Noble Lord, — It is with the greatest
pleasure I write *to inform your lordship of my
innocence 'of the charge wherein I am shortly
about to suffer death. My Lord, permit me to
inform your lordship, from the personal know-
ledge I have of your lordship's family, it is im-
possible I could be guilty of the slightest in-
tention to harm your lordship in any way. My
lord, I have had the honour of working at your
lordship's seat, in Sandon-hall, Staffordshire,
wherein I worked for Mr. Bullock, of Rugeley,
and would at any time rather lose my life in your
defence than to be an accomplice to harm you, or
any other man, be his condition ever so poor,
much more so many illustrious persons, and
among them one I had so great a respect fur,
from personal knowledge, as your lordship. I
declare now to your lordship, as I hope lo be
saved, that I'ld wards was the man who uave me

414 CATO-STREET CONSriRACY.

the money to redeem the bhmderbuss, which
Adams carried away to Cato-street ; 1 gave it to
him not knowing of any plot : and, as I related
to the Privy-Council, Mr. Goldworthy met me
in John-street, Portland-road; he gave me a
sword to take to Cato-street, and a bundle, which
contained belts. When I found I was entrapped,
I naturally attempted to escape, but never fired.
I never had any pistols in my possession ; and, in
truth my lord, Mr. Edwards must know that I am
not that man of colour that was in their party, if
he will do me the justice to say so."

JOHN THOMAS T>T>tT^-i-i

.oin m Union-street, Oxford-street
London. His father Avas a tailor: he apnren
ticed his only son John Thomas, at the aL of
fourteen years, to Mr. Brookes, a lady's Shoe-
maker, m Union-street. He served Mr. Brookes
till he was eighteen years of age, when, his father
dying, his mother purchased the remainder of his
time, and his mdentures were given up to her ind
he^supported lus mother for%o,ne Usb; w'

At tlie age of twenty-one years he articled

rlLl" ''"■" ""= "^-'-lo-ng.- and, in a shon
tnne became an excellent workman. A nri/e
boot ni the sho,,of a tradesman in the Strand was
niade by h,m. When he was twenty-three velrs
of age he married a respectable yiuno- woir-in
named Welch. On the 1st of mL fsOG '^ o
.rong^n him a boy who is now livSg w/th hi
i.iotlei. He was fourteen years of age on the
day his nnlortunate father suffered the'sentcnce
of the law. Brunt was tlnrty-eight years of age

The following lines were written by Brunt in

lUel^ra','; "'""'/''" "^""''''-y "^ S^ate^sendinV
e lie ^c tf,: '" "''" ^"''"' ^>y "'^ Major, that
I.e alleged luulors were not to be allowed kniv...

JOHN THOMAS BRUNT. 415

or forks, and only to be allowed to walk on the
leads an hour each day :

The Home Department's Secretaire,
His orders they would make you stare ;
An hour a day allowed to walk,
But mind you neither wink nor talk !
For these are gifts of human reason,
And you are adepts in high treason :
No bigger rogues on earth there be on,
For so says Edwards the espione !
Let them eat and drink and sleep,
But knives and forks pray from them keep.
As they '11 commit assassination —
Tiie rogues would overturn the nation !

At the bottom of the above lines were written
the following couplets :

In modes of faith let graceless zealots fight,
He can't be wrong whose life is in the right.
Life's but a jest, and all things show it,
I thought so once, but now I know it !

J. T. Brunt, Tozcer of Jjondon.

The following verses were written by Brunt,
in Newgate, on the Sunday evening, after taking
leave of his wife ; they were inclosed in an enve-
lope, which was addressed to his wife ; it con-
tained also a shilling, the last money he possessed,
and he requested his wife to keep the shilling for
his sake as long as she lived :

Tho' in a cell I 'm close confm'd,
No fears alarm the noble mind ;
Tho' death itself appears in view,
Daunts not the soul sincerely true !
Let Sidmouth and his base colleagues
Cajole and plot their dark intrigues ;
Still each Briton's last words shall be,
Oh ! give me death or liberty !

J. T. Bkunt, Newgate, April r,0, IB'iO.

4)6

Procccdmgs relative to George Edwards, the Spy.

-On Tuesday, the 2d May, Mr. Alderman Wood
rose in his place in the House of Commons, and
said, that " he had a question to bring under the
consideration of the house, which he considered
as one of the greatest importance, and particu-
larly to the house itself. He might be wrong in
the course which he had proposed to himself to
pursue ; but, if he were, the Speaker would, no
doubt, instruct him what was the proper mode of
bringing the matter forward. He had come to
the determination of treating it as a breach of
privilege ; and would here very briefly state what
were the facts.

" Seven persons had applied to him, in his offi-
cial capacity of magistrate, for a warrant to take
up a man, stated to be then resident in Fleet-
street, whose name was said to be George Ed-
wards. He immediately went into a private
examination of those individuals, with the assist-
ance of Sir W. Domville. Four of the parties
deposed to some very material facts, some of
which, affecting the safety of that house, he should
now mention ; but others, which were detailed at
great length, were of too horrible a description
for him to repeat.

" They involved a plot, not merely to effect
the destruction of that house, and the honourable
members within it, but of one of the highest per-
sonages in this kingdom, and of his majesty's
ministers also. He would, however, confine him-
self to the facts of the case as they regarded that
house. Hg would read the words of the depo-
fiition.

EDWAUDS, THE SPY. 417

** Some time in that year deponent saw a man,
of the name of Edwards, going from one pubhc-
house to another, inviting persons to unite with
him in the execution of the plots against the go-
vernment, which he intended to bring forward.
It then went on to state, that one of his great
plots was this : — He said, * that he could bring into
the House of Commons six or eight men very rea-
dily, and that it was not necessary that they should
come in clean.' By that expression he meant,
that they might easily enter the Honse with some-
thing under their arms ; for thej' could so come
into the lobby and other parts of the House with
books ; no objection would be offered to their
passing in with books under their arms.

" The«e books were to have been filled with
gun-barrels, cut down to the length of four inches
only, which were to be filled with gunpowder,
and plugged up at both ends ; and these imple-
ments being thrown down in the middle of the
House, upon some occasion of a full attendance,
when it would be in a very crowded state, would
explode with great violence, and cause much
destruction. The deposition went on to shew,
that Edwards on one occasion said, ' Thistlewood
is the boy for us ; he's the one to do our work :
he will very soon be out of Horsham-gaol.' Now
the evidence next showed, that, two days
after, Thistlewood did come out of Horsham-
gaol, and he was introduced to this Edwards at
the house of Preston, the cobbler ; and that
which was the strongest confirmation of the whole
statement, and proved it beyond all doubt, was,
that Edwards did get those very book? made for
the purpose ; and that he procured the gun-barrels,
and had them cut up,

" At that time, too, he had not money enon<;h
to buy a pot of beer. All at once, however, he
got supplied with casli, and was enabled lo pur-

3 I!

418 CATO-8TREET CONSPIRACY.

chase several other weapons of defence, and arnife',
which the deponents spoke of.

" Now, this was the general substance of the
depositions as they regarded that house ; as to
the other parts, which related to the intended
taking off of certain individuals, he had hardly
satisfied himself what might be the best mode of
proceeding ; or whether, from the nature of the
case, he might be justified in asking the House to
indulge him with a committee of secrecy, in which
case it would not be necessary for him to proceed
with his present observations. The other details,
however, which he did not at present feel it his
duty to bring before the House, were of a most
terrible description, and unfolded plots of the
most dreadful character.

" The persons who had made the depositions
were respectable persons, and not at all impli-
cated in the late legal proceedings, as having been
evidence for the crown or for the prisoners. He
had had several other persons with him that same
morning, who were all ready to swear that they
knew Edwards to have been engaged in these
plots from time to time. He had been asked by
several individuals, how he intended to proceed
in this case ; and he could now declare, that his
mind was made up to call that person (Edwards)
before the bar of the house. Whether, however,
he should ask for a committee of secrecy, or pro-
ceed in any other way, he was ready to bring
this important business before them, and he
thought that he discharged his duty in so
doing. He had not thought it proper to swear
those deponents to the truth of their allegations,
because all the acts charged against Edwards
were stated to have occurred either in the county
of Middlesex or the city of Westminster. As he
never interfered in such a case, he told the par-
ties that they must go belore a magistrate, cither

EDWARDS, THE SPY. 419

of Westminster or of the county ; or else that they
must apply for a warrant to Lord Sidmouth. He
directed them to go to his Lordship ; and pro-
mised that, upon procuring the warrant, he would
get it immediately backed, so as to make it ope-
rative within the city of London.

*• He thought the thing a matter of such im-
portance that he took the depositions in charge
himself; and ordered the witnesses to attend him
at Lord Sidmouth's immediately ; but it so hap-
pened that his Lordship had left the place a few
minutes before his arrival. He left the deposi-
tions with a person whom he had now in his eye,
and had received an answer ; but he did not think
proper now to give it.

*' The existence of such a man as this Edwards
it was almost impossible to conceive. It was
difficult to imagine a man, going about with all
this boldness from public-house to public-house —
nay, even from one private house to another,
framing and discoursing of all these plots. For
his own part, however, when he looked at all the
facts, he thought it clear that Edwards had be-
come connected with the conspirators at a very
early period ; and he pledged himself, that, if the
house should adopt any question upon the subject,
he would bring forward such evidence as must
convict the man. It was only to be apprehended
that he was not, perhaps, in the country, which
he might have quitted by this tiiiie ; otherwise,
no doubt, there were honourable gentlemen who
were in possession of him, so that he might be
produced. He, therefore, felt it his duty, under
all the .circumstances, before he sat down, to move,
* That George Edwards be immediately brought
to the bar of this house.'"

Mr. Bathurst objected to the motion, on
the ground that an individual charged with such
high crimes as those imputed to Edwards, was
an improper person to be brought to the bar

3 H 2

420 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

of the House of Commons, on the charge of a
breach of privilege ; but stated that there was no
doubt, if the question was brought before the
House in a proper shape it would be entertained.

Mr. Alderman Wood in reply said, " that he
certainly set out with intimating that he saw great
difficulties in this question, but was, indeed, quite
happy to hear it observed, that if the business
were brought before the House properly, the House
would properly entertain it. He thought it right
to state, that he had applied to another quarter,
to get the individual in question prosecuted, but
in that application he had been disappointed.

" When he first read over the depositions,
which were of a nature, he was sure, to make
every man shudder with horror, he thought that
not a moment was to be lost in taking Edwards
up, if he could be found; and, he took it for
granted that he could be found ; for he was known
to have been in the possession of certain persons
for a long time. His plots were truly diabolical ;
and from the evidence it could be proved, beyond
contradiction or dispute, ' that Edwards was the
sole plotter and founder of the whole Cato-street
plot.' At present knowing of no other way than
the motion he had suggested by which the man
might be brought to justice, he should leave the
matter in the hands of the House."

A short debate on the question then ensued,
but it appearing that the charge could not regu-
larly be entertained by the House as a breach of
privilege, Mr. Alderman Wood was induced to
withdraw the motion for the present.

On the 9th of May the worthy Alderman, having
newly- modelled his motion, so as to move for a
committee of secrecy to examine the depositions
in his possession, again called the attention of the
House to the subject. He commenced by stating
that " in bringing forward the motion, he had no
object in view but tiie furtherance of justice, no

F.UM'ARDi^, THE SPY. 421

end to attain but the elucidation of certain extra-
ordinary facts. He had not willingly embarked
in this business, which he wished to have been
taken up by his Majesty's ministers. He had
done all he could to induce the Secretary of State
for the Home Department* to bring to trial and

* The following; are copies of letters which passed between
Lord Sidmouth and Mr. Alderman Wood, on the subject :

Frotn Lord Sicbnoidh to Mi-. Alderman Wood.

Whitehall, April 2-6, 1820.

Sir, — I have to thank yon for the statements of Mary Barker,
Thomas Chambers, William Tunbridge, and Gcorsre Pickard,
which you left, in my absence, in tht hands of Mr. Clive.

You are probal)ly aware, from die list of witnesses which has
been delivered to the prisoners now oii their trial, that George
Edwards, who is alluded to in those statements, is named in that
list, and is liable to be called as a witness for the Crown ; and
there does not appear to me any sufficient ground for instituting^
any proceedings against him.

I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Mr. Alderman Wood, Sj-c. ^c. Sidmouth.

To the Right Honourable Viscount Sidmouth.

My Lord, — Having brought a rpiestion respecting George
Edward? before the House last evening, it is mv intention to
renew that question in a different form. I have received consi-
derable information, besides those documents I left at your Lord-
ship's office, confirming the infamous conduct of I'.dwards. I
have, therefore, to request your Lordship will prevent Edwards
from leaving the country, as I have been this day informed he is
preparing to leave England for America.

I hare the honour to be,mv Lord, vour most obedient servant,
May 3, 18-20. " ' M. Wood.

From Lord Sidvioufh to Mr. Alder in m, Wood.

Whitehall, May 3, 1820. ^
Sir, — I have received yovir letter of this date, in which you
rft[uest me to prevent tieorge Edwards from leaving this
country ; and, in reply, I have to acquaint you, that I know of
no ground which could justify me in issuing a warrant against
Edwards, that being the only mode by which I could comply
vith your request.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,
Mr. Alderman Wood. Sidmol th.

422 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

to punishment the individual whose name was
so intimately connected with the late conspiracy.
He had done so as a magistrate.

" In consequence of information which he had
received, he deemed it necessary t-o lay before the
Secretary of State all the documents he could
collect on the subject of Edward's proceedings ;
and he produced a number of persons w^ho were
ready to swear to the matters contained in their
depositions. He farther added, in his corres-
pondence with the Secretary of State, that he
was then enabled to bring forward a considerable
body of evidence in support e,f what had pre-
viously been alleged. He had attentively looked
over a vast number of depositions, which appeared
to him to be of great importance. He had brought
down about thirty of them ; and he craved the
indulgence of the house while he read over the

"" To the Right Honour cble Viscount Sidmouth.

■ My Lord, — I am honoured with your Lordship's answer to
my letter of yesterday, respecting George Edwards, wherein
you state, that " you know of no ground which could justify
you in issuing a warrant against him." I consider that those
depositions which I left at your Lordship's office, contain such
charges as would fully justify your Lordship in apprehending
George Edwards, Perhaps your Lordship's objections are, that
they are not sworn ; if so, I beg to inform you that the parties
*ere in attendance at your Lordship's office, to give evidence,
and wore ready to be sworn to their statements, and are now
ready, at an hour's notice, t-o attend your Lordship. I have also
other evidence to produce.

^I remain, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
/7, South Audley-street, May 4, 1820. M. Wood.

From Lord SidinGuih to Mr. Alderman Wood.

Whitehall, Mapr 4, 1820.
Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this
day's date, in which I see no ground for altering the opinion
communicated t(i.you in my former letters.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

SiDMOUxn.

i,l)\\AU[)S, TllL SPY. 423

whole ot" this evidence, preparatory to his nioving
ior a secret committee. His only wish was that
a secret committee should be ajjpointed ; and if
the House at once agreed to it, he sliould be quite
contented with that result.

" If he could show that Edwards was the
))erson who directed that plot — if he could show
that he was going about for tv/o years endeavour-
ing to effect it — if he could prove that it was
Edwards who purchased the swords and the arms
of all kinds — if he could prove, by good evidence,
that it was he who made the instruments of
destruction which were produced on the trial, and
others which might now be produced — he thought
it would be quite impossible for the House to
refuse his motion. He could substantiate all this
by evidence — by the evidence of persons whose
characters could not be impeached. He could
bring forward witnesses, who had lived four, live,
and six years with their employers, from whom they
had received the best of characters. They stated,
.hat Edwards had called on them at different
times, and had endeavoured to seduce them : that
he had drawn them into public-houses — that he
had made purchases of arms — and that he had
sent arms to their houses, they not knowing from
whom those arms came, until subsequent evidence
made them acquainted with the fact.

'* He had traced this man during a period of
five years, although his motion was confinred to
two. Some years ago he was living at Windsor,
and some favour was shown to him by persons
about the Castle. He was employed as a modeller
in plaster-of-Paris*. Sometimes he was in deep

* The followiuf: account of a professional intercourse with
Edvards, who strove hard to convert it into a political con-
nection, has been pnblislicd by Mr. Carlilc.

" On my entering; the house at oo, Fleet-street, I became the
neit;-hb()ur of Edwards, who previously held the little shop which
bears th<^ \n. .'<.',] usbiiivj; part of •")(>. I'.dwards was no sooner

424 CATO-STHEET COXSPIRACY.

adversity, at other times his circumstances were
better. At one period he was walking about

aware that I had taken 55, than he strenuously applied himself
to become a tenant or lod-^er of mine, before I had the least
idea of letting any pcirt of the house. I had a strong dislike to
his appearance, and particularly the party whom he stated himself
to be connected with, which were the Spenccans, and conse-
quently gave him no hopes that I should receive him as lodger.

«*•*»**»■»*
He was in the habit of coming into the shop to purchase my
pamphlets, and I soon conceived the notion of having a figure of
Paine modelled ; he expressed himself quite anxious for the job,
and observed, that from his admiration of the principles of
Paine, he would be satisfied with a small price for it. On my
wishing to fix him to a price, he proposed five pounds, which would
ii:st cover the expense he should be at, without including his
time or abilities : this was agreed on immediately, and he was
to proceed forthwith : this happened in the latter part of Febru-
ary, or beginning of March.

" A few days after Mr. Edwards expressed *. wish to have
the money before hand, and observed, that it was usual with
modellers, i hesitated, refused, and offered him one pound,
wliich he accepted. A head, or bust, was soon ready, and I
gave him three guineas further, for th'e copyright of it, but I
could get him no further with the figure, (although I had gone
to the expense of the pedestal and other requisites for it,) until
the fall of the year, the whole of which time he appeared to be in
a state of abject poverty, — was obliged to give up his shop, and
was never to be found at home. I urged him, by continual
messages, to proceed with the figure, and, in the month of
t>eptember, I got him to finish it.

Edwards wos paid for his figure before it was finished and set
«p, ami altogether considerably in addition to the first
agreement.

" p'roiH this time he stuck very close to me, on one pretence
and th*' other ; followed me twice to Blackheath, for the pur-
pose of modelling my likeness on his own account, which he
completed in tlie King's Bench Prison, without any apparent
object of making any thing of -it. fie pleaded great poverty,
and twice solicited the loan of Inoney from me, after the figure
of Paine was finished and paid for ; I as often refused him,
because his whole conduct had convinced me that he was both
•dishonest and ill-disposed. 1 had never the smallest idea that
he was a spy, and as I knew him to be in the habit of running
after Thistlewood and his party, I often asked him what project
ihey iuul in view, as a matter of joke.

F.DWARDS, THE SPY. 42.3

the streets selling liis busts, without shoes or
stockings ; and all at once he became compara-
tively rich. To account for this, he stated that he
was the relation of a German count, from whom
he had received some money ; in obtaining which,
he said, he was assisted by Lord Castlereagh.
This circumstance was sufficient to excite suspi-
cion in any rational mind.

" He would also prove that Edwards had been
long connected with the police-officers. This was
a point which certainly must be considered as
very important. He pledged himself to show
that Edwards was in connexion with a police-
officer who was the intimate friend of Castles, and
by whom Castles was employed to entice indi-
viduals to assist in the liberation of French officers,
those individuals being immediately afterwards
seized, for the purpose of procuring the reward.
If he traced deeds of this description to Edwards,
he contended that the committee ought to be
granted. All this, doubtless, would be denied ;
but he was prepared to prove it, and was deter-
mined to do his duty. He had sought out the
history of this man, as, on a former occasion, he
investigated and exposed the conduct of three
individuals who stood in a similar situation, and
who, for the purpose of receiving the reward, were
inciting men to the mmmission of crimes.

" \\'hen, at last, he brought the villany of tliis
atrocious traitor (he could not denominate him a
man) before the House — when he traced him,
forming his plots — meeting individuals at an ap-

" It Vtas Edwards Avho informed me that the person who
visited me in the King;'s Beneli i^ison, in company with David-
son, was a spy, and that it was he who conveyed all the infor-
mation to Lord Sidnionth and the Lord Mayor. Edwards was
the fourtli person wlio entered the room whih^ they were there,
and it struck me foreil)lv tliat there was a stran'cc coolness and
distance between the three who had frecjuently met together
before. I had never for a inomt nt suspected Edwards to be
any thing- further than an idle, dissolute character."

3 I

42G CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY,

pointed place, for the purpose of carrying his
schemes into execution — telHng them, if they
were surprised, to proceed to Lord Harrowby's —
employing himself in making those arms which
were produced on the trial — and, above all, when
he proved that Edwards had brought Thistlewood
to the lodging at Davis's house — that he had hired
that lodging for him — that he did not cause his
apprehension the night of the discovery, but that
he caused his arrest the next morning, having
waited until the Gazette, offering a reward of
1,000/., was published ; — when he proved all this,
could they refuse a fall and fair enquiry ? He
could incontestibly show, that Edwards told the
persons engaged in the conspiracy, in case they
were disturbed, to follow him to Grosvenor-
square ; that he accompanied a part of them on
their way towards Cato-street to Holborn ; that
he quarrelled with one of the persons who de-
clined going further ; that when the discovery was
made, he informed Mrs. Thistlewood where her
husband was ; that he went the next morning to
Harris's, and desired him to keep Thistlewood all
day, and that he would be removed at night ; and
finally, that he brought the officers to seize him.
" He could further show that Edwards had
taken lodgings, under the assumed name of Walls,
in Pimlico. He referred the owner of the house
to a porter, at Buckingham-gate, for his character,
who told him, * This is Mr. Walls, of Windsor.'
He remained at these lodgings for a considerable
time with a police-officer.

" He would now proceed to the depositions :
" A person named Pickard *, a weaver,

* Our limits will not admit the insertion of all the depositions
read by the worthy Alderman in support of his motion ; we,
however, present our readers with copies of two of them, to
shew the course pursued by the infamous Edwards in entrapping
liis destined victims, which was nearly the same in all cases.—
The following- is Pickard's deposition :

EDWARDS, THE SPY. 427

working for his father, deposed that he had
casually met with Edwards at a public-house.
Edwards called him by name, thoui^h he did not
recollect having seen him before. Edwards told
him *' It was time the b — y thieves was des-
troyed. A number of persons, say six (he con-
tinued), might get admission into the gallery of
the House of Commons, provided with tin cases,
painted to represent books, and filled with pistol-

" George Pickard, 15, Hare-Street, Bethnal Green, says,
I know Edwards. I first saw him before the first Smithfield
Meeting-. I never much associated with him, I considered him
so much of a blackguard, I knew his brother also, who was
secretary to the Spencean Society. I met him some time about
July, at the While Lyon in Wych Street; there were two or
three others there. He knew me, better than I did hiin. He
asked me how I did, and said, ' What a pity it is, Pickard, that

we can t destroy these b vermin.' A trifling conversation

took place ; at last, ' I'll tell you what it is,' said he, ' any body
can get into the House of Commons with an order, nor does
it require that tliey should go clean. Suppose we have an iron
case made m the shape of a book (for any person is allowed to
carry in a book,) and have some old gun or pistol barrels, which
may be got cheap, cut into pieces about three or four inches
long : let them be plugged up at each end with lead, and the
centre filled with powder, and a touch-hole made ; half a dozen
of cases may be made full of them, for a similar number of men
to take into the House. One man might have a bottle of phos-
phorous, and a lighted match might be taken with a piece of a
rope, without giving any alarm to the persons present, and ap-
plied to the-fTisp, whi(^h would communicate with the contents
of the cases — they should be thrown when tho Honso was full,
from the galleiy. The opportunity should be taken when some

important business was going forward. ' What b y des-

struction it would make,' said he, seemingly quite pleased, and
laughing at the idea. He next said, that 'I'histlewood would
soon be out, and he was the boy for doing business. When
he comes, we will set all things to rights. After some further
talk, he drew out a grenade, saying, 'What do you think of

this?' ' What do you call it?' said 1 ; ' Oh, you are a d d

fool, you know nothing ;' and then he told me it was a hand
grenade. ^ He asked me if I would make one of thirty or forty
men for some desperate purpose, which he did not explain ;
but such things he added, should not be entered into without

having a guard against the b y police. Upon which he

drew forth a curious instrument from his waistcoat pocket, and

8 1 2

428 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

barrels. One of these, provided with hemp, as a
fuse, might be thrown into the House, when the
members were engaged in debate.'' Deponent
farther-said, that Edwards gave him a small steel
instrument, to fix to a walking-stick. He also
stated that Edwards was constantly going after
him.

" Another individual, William Coudry, stated,
that he attended several meetings when Edwards
was present, and was informed by him, on one oc-
casion, that a cabinet dinner was to be given at
Lord Westmoreland's, at which Lord Castlereagh

would be present. Edwards said, ' the b y

Irish butcher must be made away with.' Coudry
stated also that he had ni'ff^n seen Edwards after-
wards preparing destructive instruments.

** A person named Seymour stated, that he
knew Edwards four or five years, having met him
some time ago, and he proposed that deponent

said, It might be put into a common walking cane by having a
hole bored in the bottom, and be instantly fit for use. 1 told
him I must know him better before I would have any thing to
do with him. He replied, that Thistlewood knew him well, and
that that would be a sufficient recommendation. I met
Edwards and Thistlewood previous to the Cato-Street business,
on the Saturday. Thistlewood asked me various questions res-
pecting business, and after shaking hands he bid me good day.
Then Edwards turned quite round, and after looking for some
minutes, held his hand out to shake hands. 1 do not recollect
the first few sentences that passed, but on parting he said, ' You

b Pickard, you must fight before long.' On the followino-

Monday two'persons called at my lodgings, when I was absent,
and inquired for me. One of them answered the description of
Edwards. They left no message, but called again on Tuesday,
but I was away : 1 never heard of him since then. Previous to
the last time of my seeing Edwards I went to the Scotch Arms,
in Round-Court, Strand, and saw Adams and Edwards there.
They both talked about destroying the Ministers, and invited
me to go to a mc^^ting, and Adams gave me a grenade, and
Edwards gave me a small pike. I told Whadman of the
circumstance ; he advised me to have nothing to do with the
business. Adams and Edwards caUed at my lodgings the day
before the Cato-strctt business, but 1 had left."

EBWARDS, THE SPY. 429

should go to a meeting in Smithfield. He replied
to Edwards, that he would not go, for that he was
not inclined to join in those bad pranks. Edwards
afterwards told this man that the meeting had not
turned out to their expectation. This was a man
of considerable respectability. Another man had
seen Edwards at a coffee-house, in June, and was
told by him that the only means was, to destroy
his majesty's ministers, by throwing hand-gre-
nades into their carriages. Another individual
was called on by Edwards on the 19th of Au-
gust, three days after the dispersion of the meeting.
Edwards stated to him, that Manchester was on
fire, that the New Bailey was taken, and that Hunt
as killed, and added. ' Come out immediately,
all are ready ; we have nothing to do but rallying
our forces.' Edwards came again at eight in
the evening, and said something so wicked,
that the man would have nothing more to do with
him.

'" Edwards called on another man at his mecha-
nical business, and asked if the men were all re-
formers. After coming several times he saw a
sword hung up in the place, and said he would be
very much obliged to him for it. The individual
gave it. Edwards said, ' you have more V He
replied that he had not. Edwards said such swords

were very cheap, and they ronld get them aS

cheap as the government. The man gave him no
more, but soon afterwards a bundle was brought
to him containing twenty-four swords and some
pikes, and Edwards carried away a number of
them under his coat, and sent for others. He said
to this individual, ' Pray come and see what we
are about.' He went, and saw Edwards in a
flannel jacket, surrounded with combustibles; he
saw him making cartridges and hand-grenades,
and arranging all the implements of destruction.
The man, who had ibrmerly been at sea, would
stay no longer.

430 CATO-STRr.ET CON SI' I RACY.

" A man of the name of Chambers * was visited
by Edwards, and was desired to permit him to

* Chamber's doposilion, is as follows : —

" I, Tliom;is (^hambor.s say, that 1 am a bootmaker, residing
at 3, lleatheock. Court, Strand, and have been in the em-
ployment ol' Mr. , shoemaker, Tavistock-street, lor

seven years, and still continue to work for him; that about
five months ago I became aeiiuainttMl with George Edwards,
by meeting him by accident at the White Lion, Wych-street;
that some time atler he eallod upon me, at which I was
nmeh surprised, not knowing much of him ; he at the same time
talked about politics in a. strange violent manner; he came to
me again soon after, and hold tlie saMic sort of language, saying.
It was nonsense talking, pe«)[>K; must arm themselves.' Ou
Christmas Eve ho again called on me, with several persons,
among whom were two Irislunen, who were drunk, and whom I
had never seen before. Edwards :>t tluf time had with him an
old oavalry sword which he kept under his coat, and also a
sword stick in his hand, lie said to the Irishu.en, ' woidd not
you wish to have Castlereagh's head to carry about on a pole, for
th»> good he has done your country.' One of the Irishmen said,
• lie,' meaning l.ortl t'astlereagh, * is a big rogue ;' ou «hich Ed-
wards said. ' Here is what will cut oil' his b — y head,' One of the
Irishmen said lu' would not enter into any thii g until he was
swcirn. Edwards then asked me for a Bible to swear the man: I
said, I will have no swearing here, and being at work, and not
liking their language and noise, I bid them to leave my house,
and thoy went away. E.dwards called ou me again about a week
after, much against my wish, and held fortli, in violent language
about the government, and said, ' that id'ter the tyrants (mean-
ing ministers) were cut off. Hunt and t\ibbeti, must go to pot.'
Finding I did not like their language, he went away. About a
fortnight bit'ore the C'ato-streef SiKinoc- P,l,vxr,l^ .■■tiled on me.
ttud said lu iiu , ' the tyrants must fall,' and added, ' all must
come together armed, and you must come with your sword and
pistol, as I suppose you have got them.' I told him I had no-
thing of the kind: he then said that I should not want for them.
Soma short time after this he came to my lodgings quite down
in spirits, and said he could not fuul any one to have courage to
join, and he had a great n^nd to cut his throat. A short time
after this Edwards came again with two uumi, and in good
spirits, and saitl, ' I suppose Yt)u will go witli us, you know
what I mean ;' I answered, 1 do not ; he said. * you are uoi such
a fool, as not to know there is ionu^hing ou foot, we mean to
destroy ministers.' 1 answered, that I would not be in such a
Despard's business. He then dapped his hand on tlu> wall ot
the house, and said. ' this is all lath ami plaster, and you shan't
be hafe, we'll blo^'. >ou oul of vour bed.' 1 did not si'c Ed-

EDWARDS, THE SPY. i31

leave there some ^irms. Edwards said that all
was ready. He oftered money to two Irishmen,
who came in, and brought them to a public-house, ,
where he treated them with some drink. Mary'
Barker, daughter of one of the unfortunate men,
stated that the hand-grenades and other tilings
found in her father's (Tidd's) house, were entirely^
brought in the night before by Edwards. *<

" Another individual — he was not desired by
any of those persons to conceal their names, and
if any member wished for the names he was ready
to give them, — the individual to whom he alluded
knew Edwards ; he had known William Edwards,
brother of this Edwards, connected with the
police, and had worked with him at the palace at
Windsor. This man was conducted by Edwards
to Cato-street, but when he saw the preparations
there, he immediately ran away. Edwards pre-
sented his sword to prevent another from going
away from Cato-strcet. To another person Ed-
wards said, * Now is the time to destroy his
majesty's ministers, if the country is not to be
ruined.' The man replied, ' Such a thing might
do \ery well for a foreigner ; it would not do for
an Englishman.' Edwards then gat Thistlcwood
to come along with him to this man, Thistlewood
had sold an estate to a friend of the man s, and

wards after this till Monday, the "2 1st ©f February, when ke
came, in company with a Tery tall man, who had a cast in his eye,
and Edwards had a large bag with him, which he requested me
to allow him to leave in my room. I asked him what it con-
tained, he replied, ' Oh! only a lew pistols, and such like.' I
instantly bid him take them away, that I would have nothiag.to
do with such things in my place. He urged mc very much to
permit the bag to remain, bin I would not. 1 again told him I
would on no account have any thing to do witli such things, and
immediately made him take the bag away, assisted by the per-
sons who came with him. Since then 1 have seen nothing of
Edwards."

* See Marv Barker's evidence on the Trials, pages 191, 277,
315.

432 CATO-STREET CONSPIRACY.

was therefore known to him. But the man said
to them, 'I'll hear no more of that.'

" Another man was applied to by Edwards, on
the 19th of January, and was told by him that
the destruction of ministers, either in their car-
riages or at cabinet dinners, was determined on.
He would not weary the house by detailing all the
practices of this infernal person. One very long
and very interesting paper in this matter, which
explained the whole from beginning to end, was
written by one of the unfortunate individuals who
had been seduced — it might therefore be said that
it was deserving of little credit. Another person
stated Edwards to have been patronized at Wind-
sor, and that hp. knew him to be a spy. Another
person, who had been on the waggon at the Smith-
field meeting, stated, that Edwards gave a hint
to a person who was about to speak of what he
should say— gave him a pint of beer — told him to
speak out, and among other things suggested, that
they were ready with fire-balls. It was a very
extraordinary disclosure, and never had there been
a thing devised so well. In the whole proceed-
ings not one instance was found of one person
seduced, seducing another. A was not found to
have seduced B ; but in all cases Edwards was
the seducer.

" Of some of the papere ho was not prepared
to give any account, as they had come into his
hands only since he came into the house ; but he
had stated the facts brought forward by such per
sons as were sufficient to convict Edwards. He
should hear, perhaps, that those persons were
themselves guilty of misprision of treason ; he
was prepared to hear that, and to say something
in reply. But that did not at all lessen the guilt
of the individual who was seducing others to acts
of treason. Edwards had gone on with these
practices, and supplied others with money. He
could prove money to have passed from Edwards

EDWAIIDS, CUE SI'V. 433

to many of the deluded persons. It was remark-
able that Edwards was n^ear the spot when Thistle-
wood was taken in Harris's house. Whether he
had received the 1,000/. or not, he did not know.
If he had, he could now live without labour, at
least without such labour as he might otherwise
be dependent on.

" This was established by the testimony of a
very respectable man, who kept a school in St.
George's, Hanover-square, with respect to whose
conduct in this business the trustees had held a
meeting, and found nothing to blame. This gen-
tleman (Mr. Fowler) was applied to by Edwards
under the ucxmn of Wards, for lodgings, and Mr.
Wake, who kept Buckingham-gate, said to Mr.
Fowler that he was a respectable person. After
he had been six weeks there, he said to Mr. Fow-
ler, if Mr. Sheriff Parkins or Mr. Sherift' Roth-
well should call ior him, his name was Edwards.
Mr. Fowler exclaimed, ' Good God ! have I got
a spy in my house all this time?' There had been
no subscription to provide any money, except in-
deed a trifle for one of the persons implicated,
who had been in the debtors' prison, but it was
very small. There had been, therefore no money
provided among them that could account for Ed-
wards' mode of liviuir and acting," The worthy
alderman concluded by moving, ' That a secret
committee be a|}))ointed to examine evidence
touching the criminal conduct of George Edwards
for the last t\\() years, and particularly touching
his connexion with the conspiracy detected in
Cato-street.'

The motion was seconded by Sir Robert Wil-
son, and a warm and animated debate, between
most of the leading members of the house ensued,
in which tlu' ])rinciple of employing spies wan
stroimlv cc'r.-«ui\(l and condemned by some mem-
bers, and approved of and supported by others,
as a justifiable nuvisure of state p(.)licy. The ques-
tion v.as, liovvover, ultimately negatived.

3 K

434 CATO-STREF.T C0\SP1[IACV.

The exertions of Mr. Alderman Wood in the
House of Commons having been rendered nugatory
by the rejection of this motion, recourse was had
to the ordinary means of justice, and on Monday
the 22d of May, the Grand Jury for the County
of Middlesex found a true bill against George
Edwards, for High Treason, and among the wit-
nesses examined by the Grand Jury in support
of the charge were, Mrs. Thistlewood, Mrs. Brunt,
and Julian Thistlewood, (the son). Mr. Harmer
was authorized to offer a reward for the apprehen-
sion of Edwards, and the following advertisement
immediately appeared in the newspapers :

High Treason. — One Himdred Guineas Reward.

A True Bill of indictment havincr been found by the Middle-
sex Grand Jury against GEORGE EDWARDS for HIGH
TREASON, whoever will apprehend and lodge the said George
Edwards in any of his Majesty's Gaols, shall, on application to
Mr. James Harmer, of Hatton-garden, London, receive the
above reward.

The said George Edwards is by trade a modeller ; he is about
5 feet 3 inches high, thin and pale faced, with an aquiline nose,
grey eyes, and light brown hair ; he has lately gone by the name
of Wards, and is supposed to be about to leave this country for
Ne/f Brunswick under that assumed name.

The retreat of Edwards, however, has never

oeen Hiscoverprl, anH tlip* g<^n*irpl PXpectation Js

that a free pardon will be granted to him for all
acts of treason committed previous to a certain
time, by which be will be secured against the
consequences of the bill found against hira.

The witness Hiden, and the accomplices Monu-
ment and Adams, who became evidence for the
crown, are also detained in confinement, but will
probably be hereafter released by a general pardon.

FINIS.

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